Prevalence, awareness of butchers and Antimicrobial Pattern of Mycobacterium avium complex in horses at Ebonyi State, Nigeria, 2018

Abstract

Background: INTRODUCTION: Atypical mycobacteria are ubiquitous with more than 140 mycobacteria species. Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) is zoonotic in animals including, deer, horses, pigs and birds. It affects immunosuppressed human patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Some parents/caregivers use raw horse blood as treatment for cough and Tuberculosis in Ebonyi State. MAC is not killed by any standard antituberculous drug except Ethambutol at concentrations achievable in plasma of patient Methods and materials: METHOD The sample size was 425 using prevalence of (50%) and non-response rate (10%). Collection of specimens was by physical examination of organs. Thirty-five tissue with granulomatous lesions were collected at post mortem. Samples preserved, taken to TB Lab and processed for 8 weeks. Five isolates were positive to AFB test but negative to MPT64 antigen on SD-bioline. These were considered non tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) Questionnaire on knowledge, attitude and practice were administered to 200 butchers on MAC risk. Results: MAC prevalence of 1.2% was found. The knowledge of MAC among butchers was poor. Attitude and practice of butchers toward MAC risk were poor. Mono-drug resistance against Isoniazid was in one isolate (20.0%), and multi-drug resistance against Streptomycin and Rifampicin was in one isolate (20.0%) in the horses. Conclusion: The prevalence of MAC in the horses slaughtered at Ebonyi State was low and multi drug resistant MAC isolates were in horse tissues at Ebonyi State. The knowledge of MAC among butchers was poor. Attitude and practice of butchers toward MAC risk were poor. Some isolates showed resistance to antimicrobials.