Prevalence, seasonal trends and incidences of cattle tuberculosis and brucellosis in the Cacadu municipality, Eastern Cape, South Africa

• Main Author: Nombebe, Thobeka
• Format: Others
• Language: English
• Published: University of Fort Hare 2012
• Subjects: Tuberculosis in cattle > South Africa > Eastern Cape; Brucellosis in animals > South Africa > Eastern Cape; Dairy farms > South Africa > Eastern Cape; Mycobacterium tuberculosis > South Africa > Eastern Cape
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1016200

A cross-sectional study was conducted from February 2011 to August 2012 to investigate the status and identify risk factors for Bovine Tuberculosis (BTB) and cattle Brucellosis. A total of 1277 cattle from 6 selected dairy farms were tested. The farms were purposively selected on suspected risk. Samples were analysed using Rose Bengal Test (RBPT) and Complement Fixation Test (CFT) for Brucellosis and Comparative Intradermal Tuberculin Test (CITT) for BTB. The results revealed the overall prevalence of 1.6% for Brucellosis and no BTB was found. Logistic regression analysis revealed that age of cattle, herd size and number of calves a cow has had significant association with Brucellosis with p-values 0.0071, 0.0490 and 0.000 respectively. The role of location (p>0.05), gender (p>0.05) and breed (p>0.05) in the occurrence of the disease was not statistically significant at α=0.05, although higher rates were obtained in females and Jersey breed. Questionnaires were also administered to 47 individuals a total of 12 females and 35 males. Most respondents were not aware about cattle brucellosis and cattle tuberculosis. Consumption of raw or unpasteurized milk still occurs with 74.75% of respondents revealed.