A Case Report of Bovine Tuberculosis at Ubakala Slaughterhouse, Abia State, Nigeria

Bovine tuberculosis poses a significant threat to public health as humans become infected via consumption of meat or milk of infected animals. The report of a case of bovine tuberculosis during routine meat inspection at the Ubakala Slaughterhouse in Abia State, aims at providing insights into disease surveillance and control measures. Routine postmortem inspection of slaughtered cattle involving observation, palpation and incision of organs and examination of the carcass were carried out. Findings in this case report were based on gross examination and post-mortem lesions observed from the affected carcass. Postmortem examination revealed presence of tuberculous lesions and caseous nodules in lungs of the slaughtered cow. Incision into the lobes of the lungs gave a gritty sound revealing more caseous nodules. While the gross lesions observed provide valuable preliminary evidence suggestive of bovine tuberculosis, the absence of laboratory confirmation limits definitive diagnosis. Strengthening bovine tuberculosis control programs remains essential for safeguarding public health, improving livestock productivity, and ensuring the safety of the meat supply chain