Cattle cruelty and risks of meat contamination at Akinyele cattle market and slaughter slab in Oyo State,Nigeria

Cattle transported to the government-run cattle market and slaughter slab in Akinyele, Oyo State, Nigeria on their final voyage are facing a disturbingly cruel, filthy and unsafe environment that is also raising the risk of contamination of meat sold for human consumption. This report gives a picture of what the cattle have to go through before they are slaughtered. This study also reveals cattle awaiting slaughter in abysmal health conditions, cows pulled with extreme force towards lairage and slaughter slab. Equally disturbing is the filthy situation inside the abattoir where the risk of contamination of meat is significant. Also, poor meat handling, transportation and sales practices subject meat to contamination leading to poor quality and exposure of human consumers to health risk. Development of hygienic slaughter slab operations, improved transportation system for both livestock and meat is therefore recommended; not only for Akinyele, but all abattoirs and slaughter slabs in Nigeria.     

Prevalence and characterisation of Cryptosporidium species in cattle faeces and on beef carcases at slaughter

Cattle are known reservoirs and asymptomatic excretors of Cryptosporidium, a protozoan parasite that causes severe and protracted diarrhoea in people. The incidence of Cryptosporidium was investigated in 288 matched samples taken from beef carcases of 1 g samples of faeces retrieved immediately after de-legging, 25 cm2 samples of beef excised from the rump of uneviscerated carcases, and 25 cm2 samples of beef excised from the brisket area of eviscerated carcases. Cryptosporidium species were detected in 21 of the faecal samples after salt flotation and immunofluorescent microscopy. The species isolated from the positive samples were identified by restriction fragment length polymorphism and PCR as Cryptosporidium andersoni (54.5 per cent) and Cryptosporidium parvum genotype 2 (45.5 per cent). In the faecal samples, there was a significantly higher prevalence of the parasite in samples taken in summer (May to July) and winter (November to January) than in spring or autumn. No Cryptosporidium species were recovered from any of the beef samples.     

Prevalence of skin lesions in turkeys at slaughter

1. The aims of this study were (i) to evaluate the prevalence of welfare-related cutaneous lesions in turkeys at the end of the rearing period and (ii) to study the correlations between lesions.

2. The percentage of lesions in each flock was determined by observation at the slaughterhouse. Sixty flocks were investigated in 13 slaughterhouses between April and July 2006.

3. All flocks showed a high proportion of turkeys with footpad lesions, with 40·7% of turkey flocks having severe footpad dermatitis. A significant number of feet had swelling of the footpad and deviated toes (60·0% and 21·4% respectively). Arthritis was observed in 25·4% of the carcases and an average of 30·1% had breast buttons on the keel.

4. Positive correlations were found between evidence of feather pecking and arthritis, toe deviations and swelling of the footpad. Deviated toes, swelling of the feet and feather pecking were negatively linked to the most severe scratches (P? 5. A method is proposed to assess turkey welfare at the slaughterhouse based on several criteria: footpad lesions, arthritis, severe scratches, deviated toes, swelling of the footpad and breast buttons.     

Prevalence of Bovine tuberculosis in Ethiopian slaughter cattle based on post-mortem examination

A study aimed at describing the magnitude and distribution of gross lesions compatible with bovine tuberculosis (BTB) in Ethiiopian slaughter cattle in five abattoirs (four municipal and one export) located in various cattle husbandry systems in Ethiopia was carried out from July 2006 to January 2007 using detailed meat inspection procedure. Five representative abattoirs (four municipal and one export) located in distinct livestock management systems were selected. A total of 3322 cattle; 2876 (86.6%) male, 446 (13.4%) female; 3094 (93.1%) indigenous zebu, 140 (4.2%) crossbred and 88 (2.7%) pure exotic cattle were included in the study. A nine-year meat inspection record was also analyzed to elucidate the trend of BTB in the local cattle population.Of the carcasses inspected, 337 (10.2%, 95%CI= [9.2–11.2]) had lesions suggestive of tuberculosis, 69 (20.5%) generalized and 268 (79.5%) localized.TB prevalence showed a marked variation between categories of age, breed, class of animals, abattoir, geographic origin and husbandry system. It was higher in old and young animals than middle age group; in exotic than local breed; in calves than other classes of animals. The highest and lowest prevalence of TB was recorded in Adama (24.7%, 95%CI= [21.1–28.7]) and Yabello abattoirs (4.2%, 95%CI= [2.6–6.6]), respectively. Cattle whose origin was from Addis Ababa and its surrounding areas had higher prevalence of TB infection (23.9%, 95%CI= [17.6–31.5]).Cattle maintained in dairy farms had high degree of exposure (23.9%, 95%CI= [16.7–32.9]) to the infection than those maintained in other types of management system. Analysis of meat inspection records also revealed an increasing incidence of TB over the years. Our study demonstrated a high prevalence of tuberculosis in Ethiopian slaughter cattle and this could infer to similar scenario in a reference cattle population in the country. In view of Ethiopia’s increasing involvement in livestock export trade, the reported high prevalence of tuberculosis could be a major obstacle, particularly at this moment when sanitary requirements from importing countries are so much strict. Furthermore, the growing concern over increasing incidence of tuberculosis/HIV/AIDS co-infection, the high incidence of extra- pulmonary tuberculosis and a high risk of acquiring zoonotic tuberculosis among the majority of the population emphasize the need for paying the necessary attention towards the control of bovine tuberculosis.     

Clinical and epidemiological studies on canine hepatozoonosis in Zaria, Nigeria

A clinical and epidemiologic picture of canine hepatozoonosis is presented. Clinically the disease is characterized by a chronic debilitating course, persistent or recurrent fever unresponsive to antibiotics and the common babesiocidal agents, progressive anaemia, eosinophilia and polychromasia, and H. canis parasitaemia. H. canis was the most prevalent haematozoan parasite, affecting 22 per cent of the dogs examined; B. canis affected 11 per cent, and E. canis 5 per cent. H. canis affected all ages of dogs while B. canis and E. canis affected predominantly young dogs.     

Prevalence of trypanosomiasis in Zebu cattle at Obudu ranch — a tsetse-free zone in Nigeria

A recent cross-sectional survey of bovine trypanosomiasis at the Obudu Cattle Ranch (OCR), located at an altitude of 1576 m on the Obudu Plateau in Nigeria is presented. Blood samples from 68 adult cattle in three herds and 290 cattle (27 calves and 263 adults) in eight herds were screened for trypanosome infections in August 1989 and February 1990, respectively. Although the plateau is designated as tsetse-free, one (1.5%) (0.015, 95% confidence interval ±0.029) and four (1.4%) (0.014, 95% confidence interval ±0.013) of the ranch's cattle in August and Febraury, respectively, had trypanomome infections. Trypanosoma brucei caused one of the infections while the others were caused by Trypanosoma vivax.     

Prevalence of bovine campylobacteriosis in indigenous cattle of three states in Nigeria

Summary A survey of bovine campylobacteriosis in breeding bulls and cows was carried out in the states of Kaduna, Kano and Borno. Six hundred and eighty nine cattle composed of 585 and 104 breeding bulls and cows respectively were sampled.Campylobacter fetus subsp.venerealis was isolated from 12 bulls whileCampylobacter fetus subsp.fetus was isolated from three of them. Campylobacter fetus subsp.fetus was isolated fromfour cows while Campylobacter fetus subsp.venerealis was isolated from one cow. The overall prevalence of campylobacteriosis in the three states was 2.9% (20/689). The result of the study identifiesCampylobacter fetus subsp.venerealis as the agent of enzootic infertility in Nigeria and suggests that it may be a significant problem.

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Resumen Un estudio sobre la prevalencia de campilobacteriosis en reproductores machos y hembras bovinos se llevó a cabo en los estados de Kaduna, Kano y Borno. Seiscientos ochenta y nueve animales, compuestos de 585 y 104 toros reproductores y vacas respectivamente, fueron examinados.Campylobacter fetus subsp.venerealis fue aislado de 12 toros, mientras queC. fetus subsp.fetus, se aisló de tres de ellos.C. fetus subsp.fetus se aisló de cuatro vacas, mientras queC. fetus subsp.venerealis, se aisló de una vaca. La prevalencia general de campilobacteriosis en los tres estados fue de 2.9% (20/689). El resultado de este estudio identifica alC. fetus subsp.venerealis, como el agente de infertilidad enzoótica en Nigeria, y sugiere que este puede ser un problema significativo.

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Résumé Une enquête sur la campylobactériose bovine a été menée sur du bétail reproducteur dans les états de Kaduna, Kano et Borno au Nigeria. Elle a porté sur 689 bovins dont 585 taureaux et 104 femelles.C. foetus subsp.veneralis a été isolé sur 12 taureaux etC foetus subsp.foetus sur 3 d'entre eux.C. foetus subsp.foetus a été décelé sur 4 vaches tandis queC. foetus subsp.foetus ne 1'a été que sur une seule. L'a prévalence globale de la maladie dans les 3 états représente 2,9 p. 100, soit cas sur 689 examinés. Cette enquête a permis d'identifierC. foetus subsp.veneralis comme étant responsable d'une infertilité enzootique au Nigeria. Elle indique que cette affection peut constituer un important problème.

     

Comparative studies of gastrointestinal helminths of poultry in Zaria, Nigeria.

Two-hundred and ten digestive tracts of local chickens reared in and around Zaria, Northern Nigeria, under the extensive native free range system of management and 203 digestive tracts of exotic chickens raised under the intensive system of management were examined for parasites. Two hundred and one (95.7%) of the local chickens were infected and 24 (11.8%) of the exotic chickens also. Among the local chickens, 12 species of nematodes and 7 species of cestodes were recovered. Only one nematode and one cestode species were recovered from the exotic chickens. The prevalence of helminth infections between local and exotic chickens was significantly different at 1%.     

Prevalence of Trypanosoma theileri in cows and fetuses at slaughter

Blood from 171 pregnant and 65 nonpregnant cows was taken at slaughter for culture and examined during the culturing period for Trypanosoma theileri once a week for 5 weeks. Of the 171 fetuses from the pregnant cows, 119 (69.6%) were greater than or equal to 4 months gestation; blood samples from these fetuses were also taken for culture. Of 236 cows (81 of 171 [47.4%] pregnant and 20 of 65 [30.8%] nonpregnant cows), 101 (42.8%) were culture positive. More of the pregnant than nonpregnant cows were culture positive (P less than 0.05). More beef cows (48.0%) than dairy cows (34.1%) were culture positive (P less than 0.025). Two of the 119 (1.7%) fetus samples were found culture positive. The percentages of positive cultures from Brucella-reactor cows, 18 of 40 (45.0%), and from non-Brucella-reactor cows, 83 of 196 (42.3%), were similar. However, both of the culture-positive fetuses were from Brucella-reactor cows.     

Prevalence of bovine tuberculosis in slaughter cattle in Kenya: a postmortem, microbiological and DNA molecular study

A study to determine the presence and prevalence of bovine tuberculosis in slaughter cattle in Kenya was carried out in two abattoirs from July to November 2009. Routine postmortem meat inspection was performed on a subpopulation of 929 cattle selected randomly from among 4,984. Carcases were inspected for gross tuberculous lesions which were then examined for acid-fast bacilli, (AFB), cultured for isolation of mycobacteria and the isolates characterised by DNA molecular analysis. Of the carcases examined, 176 (18.95?%, 95?% CI) had lesions suggestive of tuberculosis. AFB were observed in 63/176 of the lesioned cattle and mycobacteria were isolated from 64 of them. The isolates were identified as Mycobacterium bovis (19/64), Mycobacterium tuberculosis, (2/64) and mycobacteria other than tuberculosis (43/64). The prevalence of M. bovis by molecular analysis was 2.05?% (95?% CI). This study documents for the first time the presence of bovine tuberculosis among slaughter cattle in Kenya. There is therefore a need to formulate and implement control programmes in order to minimise transmission among animals and to humans. Isolation of M. tuberculosis from cattle underscores the risk tuberculous humans pose to animals.     

A 6-year survey of pathological conditions of slaughtered animals at Zango abattoir in Zaria,Kaduna State,Nigeria

A 6-year retrospective study (2000–2005) of animals slaughtered at the Zango abattoir in Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria was carried out to determine disease conditions encountered in slaughtered animals. Records kept at the abattoir were analysed. A total of 69,307 cattle, 3,820 goats and 1,763 sheep were slaughtered for the period under study. Of the 69,307 cattle slaughtered for the period, 22,459 (32.41%) were males and 46,848 (67.59%) were females, while 1,763 sheep were slaughtered comprising of 506 (28.70%) males and 1,257 (71.30%) females, and 3,820 goats made up of 1,212 (31.73%) males and 2,608 (68.27%) were females. The major disease and/or pathological conditions were helminthosis (fascioliasis, haemonchosis and paramphistomosis) 16.20%, Streptothricosis 4.15%, Pericarditis 2.20%, liver cirrhosis 2.08%, abscesses 1.04%, pneumonia 0.14%, nephritis 0.05% and Contagious Bovine Pleuropneumonia, Tuberculosis and Nocardiosis 0.01% each. Out of the 15,075 infected organs, 13,314 (88.38%) were partially salvaged while 1,751 (11.6%) whole organs were condemned. A total of 1,239 pregnant cows, 221 pregnant ewes and 637 pregnant does were slaughtered, representing a foetal wastage of 2.65% for cattle, 17.58% for sheep and 24.43% for goats. The result of this study apart from serving as an indicator of field disease condition also demonstrates cases of serious losses in production due to slaughter of pregnant animals especially for sheep and goats.     

Prevalence and risk factors of Coxiella burnetii seropositivity in Danish beef and dairy cattle at slaughter adjusted for test uncertainty

Antibodies to Coxiella burnetii have been found in the Danish dairy cattle population with high levels of herd and within herd seroprevalences. However, the prevalence of antibodies to C. burnetii in Danish beef cattle remains unknown. The objectives of this study were to (1) estimate the prevalence and (2) identify risk factors associated with C. burnetii seropositivity in Danish beef and dairy cattle based on sampling at slaughter.