Journal of Bacteriology & Parasitology

Abstract

Survival of Mycobacterium bovis Following Heat Treatment of Infected Tissues obtained from Slaughtered Cattle in Sokoto Metropolitan Abattoir, Nigeria

Abdurrahman Hassan Jibril, Hameed Garba Sharubutu, Bello Rabiu Alkali, Bashir Muhammad Bello and Abdullahi Abdullahi Raji

This study was carried out to determine the viability and transmissibility of heat treated Mycobacterium bovis from gross tuberculous lesions obtained from Sokoto metropolitan abattoir. A total of 25 samples were collected for a period of 6 weeks, 13 (76.5%) of lungs and 5 (62.5%) of lymph nodes were positive on Ziehl-Neelsen stain. Positive samples were subjected to a temperature and time combination of about 1000C for 20 minutes. Acid fast bacilli was demonstrated in 25.0% (4/9) lungs and 40.0% (2/3) of Lymph nodes. This study used guinea pig (Cavus porcellus) as an infection model and were categorized into control and experiment groups. Experimental group (18) were inoculated with heat treated Mycobacterium bovis, while Control group (6) were inoculated with non-heat treated positive residue, and were examined post mortem for the presence of tuberculosis lesion 35 days post inoculation day (pid). Samples from lesions taken for direct microscopy to check for Acid Fast bacilli. At necropsy pulmonary granuloma and congestion with diffuse hepatic and splenic necrosis was observed. In conclusion, Mycobacterium bovis shows heat resistance and could retain its pathogenicity following cooking. There should be strict adherence to meat inspection procedure in abattoirs and governments should provide diagnostic laboratories in our existing abattoirs to augment meat inspection procedures.