A Review on Bovine Tuberculosis

摘要

Zoonotic tuberculosis caused by Mycobacterium bovis is common in most developing countries like. Bovine tuberculosis is a chronic infectious zoonotic disease of domestic animals and humans. It is characterized by formation of granulomas in tissue especially the lungs, lymph nodes, liver, intestines and the kidneys. In Nigeria bovine tuberculosis is endemic and mostly transmitted to humans through ingestion of unpasteurized contaminated milk and contact with infected animals. It is important to pasteurize milk before human consumption. The Fulani herdsmen that are predominantly rural dwellers should also be educated on the need to boil milk before consumption since they lack infrastructures for pasteurization. Tuberculosis causes great economic losses on farmers and is of public health importance. The meat inspection system should also be strengthened and designed to prevent the consumption of contaminated products. This review advocates that developed countries should provide educational and technical assistance to developing countries like Nigeria to promote the control of tuberculosis. In Africa heads of government, agricultural and health sector should create the infrastructures necessary for this to be achieved. Personnel at all levels of the control program should be properly trained.