Journal of
Veterinary Medicine and Animal Health

  • Abbreviation: J. Vet. Med. Anim. Health
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 2141-2529
  • DOI: 10.5897/JVMAH
  • Start Year: 2009
  • Published Articles: 416

Full Length Research Paper

Prevalence of bovine tuberculosis in dromedary camels and awareness of pastoralists about its zoonotic importance in Eastern Ethiopia

Ashenafi Feyisa Beyi*
  • Ashenafi Feyisa Beyi*
  • Addis Ababa University, College of Veterinary Medicine and Agriculture, P.O. Box 34, Bishoftu, Ethiopia
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Keleab Zerom Gezahegne
  • Keleab Zerom Gezahegne
  • Semera University, College of Veterinary Medicine, P.O. Box 132, Semera, Ethiopia
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Abiy Mussa
  • Abiy Mussa
  • Haramaya University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, P.O. Box 138, Dire Dawa, Ethiopia
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Gobena Ameni
  • Gobena Ameni
  • Addis Ababa University, Aklilu Lemma Institute of Pathobiology, P.O. Box 1167, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
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Mohammed Sanni Ali
  • Mohammed Sanni Ali
  • Addis Ababa University, College of Veterinary Medicine and Agriculture, P.O. Box 34, Bishoftu, Ethiopia
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  •  Accepted: 17 February 2014
  •  Published: 30 April 2014

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate bovine tuberculosis in camels which was conducted in Eastern part of Ethiopia using post mortem examination, Mycobaterium isolation, tuberculin skin test and questionnaire based interview. Tuberculosis (TB) is an important disease for pastoralist, particularly due to prevailing habit of consuming raw milk and sharing house during night time with their animals. This study has showed prevalence rate of 8.3% (33/398) based on the post mortem examination and 6.0% (29/480) at cut off >4 mm based on the tuberculin test. From 33 camels with suspected tuberculosis compatible lesions, 12% (4/33) showed mycobacterial growth on Lowenstein-Jensen (LJ) media supplemented with pyruvate and 18% (6/33) on LJ media supplemented with glycerol. 94.7% (36/38) of the interviewed pastoralists knew about TB while only 50% (19/38) were aware about its zoonotic importance. However, only 18.4% (7/38) of the interviewed camel owners usually boil camel milk before consumption. The result of this study highlights the potential public health risk posed by TB from camels. Hence, prompt measures are required to control the possible zoonotic transmission of the disease-prioritizing on educating the pastoralist to consume camel milk after boiling.

 

Key words: Dromedary camel, tuberculosis-compatible lesions, tuberculin test, zoonotic importance.

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This article is published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0

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