African Journal of Dentistry

African Journal of Dentistry ISSN 2756-3421 Vol. 10 (5), pp. 001-007, May, 2022. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Prevalence of bovine tuberculosis in dromedary camels and awareness of pastoralists about its zoonotic importance in Eastern Ethiopia

Ashenafi Feyisa Beyi¹*, Keleab Zerom Gezahegne², Abiy Mussa³, Gobena Ameni⁴ and Mohammed Sanni Ali¹

¹Addis Ababa University, College of Veterinary Medicine and Agriculture, P.O. Box 34, Bishoftu, Ethiopia.

²Semera University, College of Veterinary Medicine, P.O. Box 132, Semera, Ethiopia.

³Haramaya University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, P.O. Box 138, Dire Dawa, Ethiopia.

⁴Addis Ababa University, Aklilu Lemma Institute of Pathobiology, P.O. Box 1167, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Accepted 17 May, 2022

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate bovine tuberculosis in camels which was conducted in Eastern part of Ethiopia using post mortem examination, Mycobaterium isolation, tuberculin skin test and questionnaire based interview. Tuberculosis (TB) is an important disease for pastoralist, particularly due to prevailing habit of consuming raw milk and sharing house during night time with their animals. This study has showed prevalence rate of 8.3% (33/398) based on the post mortem examination and 6.0% (29/480) at cut off >4 mm based on the tuberculin test. From 33 camels with suspected tuberculosis compatible lesions, 12% (4/33) showed mycobacterial growth on Lowenstein-Jensen (LJ) media supplemented with pyruvate and 18% (6/33) on LJ media supplemented with glycerol. 94.7% (36/38) of the interviewed pastoralists knew about TB while only 50% (19/38) were aware about its zoonotic importance. However, only 18.4% (7/38) of the interviewed camel owners usually boil camel milk before consumption. The result of this study highlights the potential public health risk posed by TB from camels. Hence, prompt measures are required to control the possible zoonotic transmission of the disease-prioritizing on educating the pastoralist to consume camel milk after boiling.

Key words: Dromedary camel, tuberculosis-compatible lesions, tuberculin test, zoonotic importance.