Pulmonary lesions of cattle and associated financial losses at the butembo public slaughterhouse in Democratic Republic of Congo

Abstract

A retrospective and active investigation was carried out with the aim of identifying the main pulmonary lesions which lead to the condemnation of the lung at the public slaughterhouse of Butembo in order to assess their economic implications. In the retrospective survey, a total of 20,755 bovine animals were collected from the slaughterhouse records from January 2016 to July 2017 and revealed a rate of 7.4 %. The lesions implicated were pulmonary aillotage, verminous bronchitis, tuberculosis, abscesses, congestion, edema, emphysema and petechial. The associated financial loss was 4,208,798/3,639.608 CDF (Congolese franc)/USD. The active survey (n = 768), carried out using the traditional method of meat inspection at the slaughterhouse from August to December 2017 revealed a condemnation rate of 10.66 % associated with a financial loss of 185,196.8/1,777.626 CDF/USD. Lesions found were verminous bronchitis, emphysema, pleurisy, pulmonary aillotage, congestion, hepatization, abscesses and petechial. Significant difference (p<0.01) was determined between the different condemnation rates from the retrospective and active survey. This study determined that pulmonary aillotage, emphysema, edema, verminous bronchitis and abscesses and their associated financial losses as the main causes of condemnation of the lung at Butembo public slaughterhouse. The results of this study may be used as a basis for comparison for similar studies, provide insight into the epidemiology of respiratory diseases in livestock in the town of Butembo and insight into the extend of public exposure to certain zoonosis.

Keywords: Pulmonary lesions, Cattle, Financial loss, Butembo public slaughterhouse