A case of miliary tuberculosis in a Holestein Fresian dairy cow, Mekelle, Tigray, Ethiopia

Abstract

We report a case of miliary tuberculosis (TB) found in one of the commercial dairy farms in Mekelle, Tigray, Ethiopia. The case history of the cow indicated weight loss, emaciation and chronic cough. Antibiotic treatment was not successful and there was also repeated death of cows in the farm. Postmortem (PM) examination showed tuberculous lesions in the lung, liver, mediastinal lymphnodes, mesenteric lymphnodes, pleural cavity, reproductive tract, lymphnodes of the head and bone marrow suggesting miliary form of TB. This was confirmed by bacteriological examination and histopathology. The farm where the present case was reported is one of the dairy farms in Mekelle city that supplies milk to the community. As the pasteurization facility is weak in the area, it is suspected that this farm may serve as one of the major transmitters of TB in humans. The lack of control policy in the country worsens the occurrence and spread of TB in animals. In this case, the owner of the Farm was advised to conduct tuberculin skin testing and segregate TB positive cows. Moreover, the owner was advised that it is advantageous to slaughter the reactors under the supervision of the local veterinarian so as to reduce spread of bovine TB in the farm.

Keywords: Bovine tuberculosis; Dairy cattle; Exotic; Mekelle; Miliary TB