Bovine Tuberculosis Prevalence in Slaughtered Cattle at Arak ,Based on Meat Inspection and Microscopic Methods

Abstract: Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious, granulomatous disease caused by acid-fast bacilli of the genus Mycobacterium. The disease affects practically all species of vertebrates. Although mammalian tuberculosis has been nearly controlled in many developed countries, it is still a serious problem in humans and domestic animals including cattle in developing countries. Bovine tuberculosis (BTB) is often neglected in developing regions of the world in which it normally infects animals. We sought to describe the prevalence of bovine tuberculosis at Arak, abattoir and suburban of arak to provide background data for appropriate control measures to reduce the spread of BTB in the region. A cross-sectional study on bovine tuberculosis (BTB) was conducted at Arak from Mars 2015 to february 2016 on the basis of post mortem inspection and Ziehl-Neelsen stained samples for microbial identification. A total of 167 cattle were inspected following slaughtering. Of the total 167 animals, 25 (14.9%) had symptomatic lesions. Acid fast staining was performed for all 8 tissue specimen and only 4.7 % (8/167) of the specimens were microscopically confirmed smear positive for tuberculosis. There were high, gross tuberculosis lesions in the lung and related lymph nodes of the head. During abattoir meat inspection more attention needs to be given to the lungs and associated lymph nodes. Detailed meat inspection has limitations in exactly confirming BTB-suggestive lesions. Consequently, integrated methods for detecting tuberculosis lesions for economic and public health concerns are necessary. To safe guard people who are used to consume raw meat, appropriate control measures should be taken for the control of the spread of BTB in the Arak area.

Bovine Tuberculosis ,Meat Inspection, Ziehl-Neelsen Microscopy Lesions, Arak