Authors : Yakubu Yusuf and Abdullahi Abdulrasheed
Abstract: Bovine brucellosis is a highly contagious disease of cattle transmissible to humans. The disease is of economic and public health importance as infected cattle can shed and spread the bacteria to susceptible animals and humans in close contact or via. consumption of unpasteurized milk. Molecular detection of the IS711 gene segment in Brucella abortus was employed to examine lymph nodes of cattle slaughtered at Sokoto metropolitan abattoir. The overall prevalence of the infection was 28.24% and it was seen to have a statistically significant association with sex (p<0.001) and age (p = 0.025). The study revealed presence of Brucella abortus infection in cattle slaughtered at the abattoir which presents great risk to abattoir workers and other meat handlers. There is the need to develop a monitoring programme for animal brucellosis in the state. Individuals in close contact with animals such as livestock farmers and abattoir workers should be enlightened on the zoonotic risk of Brucella pathogen.
Yakubu Yusuf and Abdullahi Abdulrasheed, 2019. Survey on Bovine Brucellosis in Sokoto Metropolitan Abattoir, Nigeria. Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances, 18: 143-146.