Prevalence and pathological characteristics of tubercle lesions from slaughtered camels in Maiduguri, Nigeria

Abstract

One-humped camels (Camelus dromedaries) are almost exclusively domesticated species that are commonly used as beasts of burden and food animals for meat and milk production in arid areas. This study appraised the prevalence and pathological characteristic of tubercle lesions isolated from camels slaughtered in Maiduguri Central abattoir. Two hundred and twenty-eight (228) camel carcasses comprising 124 (54.6%) males and 104 (45.6%) females were examined at slaughter to detect tuberculous lungs. Tubercle lesions were excised from the lungs, lymph nodes and liver after careful visual inspection and palpation of suspected nodules and granulomas. Tissue samples were processed using Zeihl Neelsen (ZN) microscopy and routine histopathological examination by means of Hematoxylin and Eosin (H&E) and Von Kossa staining techniques at the Veterinary Microbiology Laboratory, University of Maiduguri. Tuberculous lesions were detected in 15/228 (5.5%) of all the examined carcasses. Zeihl Neelsen staining further revealed 6.6% prevalence of tubercle lesion among the examined camels. Histopathology showed lymphocytic infiltration and calcium deposits in granulomatous lesions stained with H&E and Von Kossa, respectively. The results of this study which reveal typical gross and histopathological lesions of tuberculosis indicates prevalence of tuberculosis among camels slaughtered for human consumption in Maiduguri, Nigeria. Since the zoonotic potential of camel tuberculosis cannot be ruled out, it is necessary to step up prevention and control measures for camel tuberculosis to enhance public health safety.