Public Health Implications and Risk Factors Assessment of Mycobacterium bovis Infections among Abattoir Personnel in Bauchi State, Nigeria.

A S Sa’Idu,S Ibrahim,A Usman,S A Maigari,A A Dzikwi,E C Okolocha,A A Gamawa,J K P Kwaga

doi:10.1155/2015/718193

A S Sa’Idu, S Ibrahim + Show 6 more

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https://doi.org/10.1155/2015/718193

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Abstract

Bovine tuberculosis (bTB) is a chronic infectious and contagious zoonotic disease of domestic animals, wild animals, and humans. It poses a public health threat and economic losses due to abattoir condemnation of infected carcasses during meat inspection of slaughtered animals. Bovine tuberculosis is widespread in Africa including Nigeria affecting both cattle and humans, particularly Northern Nigeria. A prospective survey was conducted from June to August 2013 in the three Zonal abattoirs of Bauchi State, Nigeria. A total of 150 structured close-ended questionnaires were administered to abattoir personnel to assess their level of awareness of bTB. This study was aimed at determining the level of public health awareness, attitude, and practices of abattoir workers of bTB in Bauchi State, Nigeria. There was a statistically significant association between respondents' awareness of bTB and their occupational status, age, and duration of exposure to cattle carcasses (P < 0.05); the odds of being aware of bTB were 9.4, 7.3, and 2.1, respectively. In conclusion, these demonstrate the urgent need for public health authorities to intervene in bTB control. The risk of bTB transmission as indicated by the personnel's practices and awareness levels in Bauchi State could be prevented through the use of protective clothing (PPEs).

Highlights

Bovine tuberculosis is a chronic infectious and contagious zoonotic disease of domestic animals, wild animals, and humans [1]
A significant number (57 (50.46%)) of them did not wear protective clothing when being in contact with cattle carcasses, despite the protection it gives against zoonotic transmission
This study showed significant (P < 0.05) association between awareness of the respondents of bTB and their occupational status, age, and duration of exposure to cattle carcasses, and the odds of being aware of bTB by their level of awareness were 9.36, 7.29, and 2.06, respectively (Table 2)

Summary

Introduction

Bovine tuberculosis (bTB) is a chronic infectious and contagious zoonotic disease of domestic animals, wild animals, and humans [1]. It occurs in a wide range of mammalian species [2]. Tuberculosis is a major health problem, with 8-9 million new cases and 3 million deaths annually worldwide [4]. The majority of these occur in the developing nations. Raufu and Ameh [7] reported an estimated annual economic loss from bTB in Nigeria and its environs (due to organ/carcass condemnation in cattle) of about 14-24 million Naira. [8] reported an economic loss of 113, 871,014 ($110,968) per annum with associated public health implications due to tuberculosis

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