Abstract

Members of the Mycobacterium complex group cause tuberculosis, it recognized as one of the most important threats to humans and animals causing mortality, morbidity and economic losses in many countries of the world, particularly in developing nations. Therefore, a cross-sectional study on bovine tuberculosis conducted in order to determine its prevalence in cattle at the ELFORA export abattoir in Debre-Zeit in the period from November 2014 to April 2015. Routine and detailed meat inspection methods used to detect lesions. Three hundred cattle inspected; their body condition scores and ages recorded before slaughtering. Of the total animals, 5.7% (17/300) had lesions of tuberculosis. Out of these, routine abattoir inspection had detected only 2.7% (8/300) with visible lesions and there was poor agreement (kappa=0.09) between routine and detailed inspection methods. The proportion of lesions found in the lung and associated lymph nodes, mesenteric lymph nodes and lymph node around head were determined to have been at 12.3%, 2% and 3.3%, respectively. The prevalence of the disease was significantly (P < 0.05) varying with body condition scores but it did not significantly (P > 0.05) vary with age groups of the animals. This study demonstrated the prevalence of bovine tuberculosis in cattle slaughtered at ELFORA export abattoir and low sensitivity of routine abattoir inspection. Hence, the carcass must thoroughly examine well to reduce the chance of missing lesions of tuberculosis.