Prevalence of Mycobactrium bovis Infection in Cattle using Intra-dermal Caudal Fold Tuberculin Test in Taraba State, Nigeria

Danbirni S.; 1 Ibrahim S.; 1Abubakar U.B.; 1Usman A.; 2Okaiyeto S.O.; 3Lovett L.; 4Habib A.G; 1 Sackey A.K.B.; 1Kudi A.C. and 1Abdulkadir A.I.

1Department of Veterinary Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria 2Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria 3Department of Community Medicine, Bingham University, Karu, Nigeria 4Department of Medicine, Bayero University, Kano, Nigeria

Corresponding Author: e-mail: drdanbirni07@yahoo.com GSM: +2348035968827

Abstract :

A cross sectional survey using convenient sampling technique was carried out to sample 106 cattle herds comprising of 3,177 cattle in 5 Local Government Areas of Taraba State in the North Eastern part of Nigeria. The sampling criteria were based on the availability of cattle populations, physical accessibility to the herds, availability of cattle restraint facilities and consent of the cattle owners. Purified Protein Derivative purchased from Prionics Lelystad, Prod. Nr. 7600040 in the Netherlands was used in screening the cattle for Mycobacterium bovis infection using intradermal caudal fold tuberculin test. The result after 72 hours indicated an overall prevalence of 3.2% (100/3,177) with Jalingo/Ardo-Kola L.G.A of the state having the highest prevalence of 8.5 % (52/609) while Sardauna L.G.A had the lowest prevalence of 0.4 % (4/1,077). The result shows a high level of Mycobacterium bovis infection in relationship to reports from other parts of the country. This result may serve as a base-line data on the status of Mycobacterium bovis infection in cattle in Taraba State. There is therefore the need to extend this study to the rest of the L.G.As of Taraba State which is home to a large portion of Nigeria’s cattle population. This recommendation however, may require legislative action in order to make the herdsmen present their cattle for testing. Key Words: Cattle, Intra-dermal Caudal fold, M. bovis, Prevalence, Tuberculin test, Taraba state