A retrospective study was conducted to investigate the prevalence of bovine tuberculosis and direct economic losses (DEL) from tuberculosis in cattle slaughtered in Makurdi abattoirs from 2008 to 2012, using abattoir records obtained from the Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources. Out of 61654 cattle slaughtered during the study period 1172 (1.90%) were positive for tuberculosis lesions. The annual prevalence of bovine tuberculosis ranges from 0.90% in 2008 to 4.04% in 2012. There was significant (P < 0.05) difference in annual prevalence of bovine tuberculosis. It was also observed that there was no seasonal difference in the prevalence of bovine tuberculosis. A total of 1935 affected organs by BTB weighing 3046.50 kg, amounting to 2.91 × 106 Naira (1.82 × 104 USD), were condemned within the study period. Seasonal variation in organ condemnation due to bovine tuberculosis was significantly different (Mann-Whitney U statistics = 774 × 103, P = 0.034). It was concluded that bovine tuberculosis is prevalent in Makurdi and accounts for heavy economic losses due to condemnation of edible organs.

Bovine tuberculosis is endemic in Nigeria. There is paucity of information on the prevalence of bovine tuberculous lesions in cattle slaughtered in Yola, Adamawa state. The annual prevalence and seasonal variation of bovine tuberculous lesions were assessed based on abattoir records of tuberculosis lesions from 2008 to 2012. The overall prevalence of bovine tuberculosis lesions from 2008 to 2012 ranges from 8.68% (6.03 -11.33) in 2008 to 10.33% (8.63 -12.03%) in 2012 with peak prevalence of 12.73% in 2011. Types of lesions were not recorded systematically, however, lesions that were observed ranges from TB granuloma, TB abscesses with yellowish pus, caseous necrotic tubercles, multiple necrosis to focal granulomas. Annual prevalence of bovine tuberculosis lesions recorded in Yola abattoirs differ significantly (p ≤ 0.05). Prevalence of tuberculous lesions in Yola abattoirs was significantly influenced by season (p < 0.05). Tuberculosis is endemic in cattle slaughtered in abattoirs meant for human consumption in Yola, therefore humans are at risk of acquiring zoonotic tuberculosis through consumption of contaminated meat.

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