Abstract
Bovine tuberculosis (BTB) is widespread but poorly controlled in Africa and M. bovis is posing threats to human health. The risk of cattle handlers to M. bovis prevalence and public health significance of BTB in Cameroon were assessed. Slaughter inspection records from major cities revealed that BTB detection rates in cattle from 0.18% to 4.25% and BTB lesions were most common. Analyses of tissues and sera confirmed BTB in 31% (Ziehl-Neelsen), 51% (culture), and 60% (antibody detection) of test cattle. Among cattle handlers, 81.9% were aware of BTB, 67.9% knew that BTB is zoonotic, and 53.8% knew one mode of transmission but over 27% consumed raw meat and/or drank unpasteurized milk. Respondents who had encountered tuberculosis cases were more informed about zoonotic BTB (P < .05). Tuberculosis is prevalent in cattle destined for human consumption in Cameroon with serious public health implications. Targeted monitoring of infected animal populations and concerted veterinary/medical efforts are essential for control.
Highlights
There is increasing contact between humans and animals worldwide due to increasing population density and growth especially in poor developing countries where livestock offers important socioeconomic, cultural, and religious pathways out of poverty [1]
Analysis of meat inspection records for another three-year period (January 2006–December 2008) for the two municipal abattoirs of the Western highlands (Bamenda & Dschang) revealed an overall TB detection rate of 0.75% of 35,295 slaughtered cattle (0.60% of 33,835 in Bamenda and 4.25% of 1,460 in Dschang), and over 50.19% of carcass condemnations were due to TB (58.29% for Bamenda and 34.44% for Dschang)
Prior to the study period, information on bovine TB in the regions was sparse though TB was the most common pathology encountered at abattoir meat inspections
Summary
There is increasing contact between humans and animals worldwide due to increasing population density and growth especially in poor developing countries where livestock offers important socioeconomic, cultural, and religious pathways out of poverty [1]. More than 70% of the people in Africa are poor and depend on agriculture for food and livelihood; yet, development assistance to agriculture is decreasing while the incidence of poverty is increasing faster than the population [2, 3]. Many diseases affect livestock and humans (some of which are zoonoses) with huge negative impact on animal productivity and public health with the poor being vulnerable [5]. Animal and human tuberculosis (TB), emerging or reemerging and caused by pathogenic bacteria of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex, M. bovis, and M. tuberculosis [6] are widespread and affecting the animal industries and human health in Africa [7,8,9,10,11,12,13]
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