Prevalence and histopathology of lesions suggestive of tuberculosis in cattle carcass slaughtered in Southwestern Bahia

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of suggestive tuberculosis lesions in cattle carcass slaughtered in Southwestern Bahia. From March to November 2012, 58,268 slaughtered animals were inspected in a slaughterhouse in Vitoria da Conquista-BA. The inspection consisted in a systematic evaluation of the lymph nodes and organs searching for suggestive lesions, through visual and tactile examination with subsequent incision of the lymph nodes. The prevalence of animals showing suggestive lesions of tuberculosis in the anatomopathological inspection was 0.12%. The most affected lymph nodes were prescapular (51.5%) tracheobronchial (19.2%) and ischiatic (11.1%). From lymph nodes, which showed presumptive lesions, 60.6% had histological changes suggestive of mycobacteria and 10.0% showed acid-fast bacilli by Ziehl-Neelsen staining, therefore, positive to mycobacteria. In conclusion, the prevalence of cattle carcasses with suggestive lesions of tuberculosis in Southwestern Bahia is low, but at the same time, brings up the necessity of intensification of actions for the control and eradication of this zoonosis in the Bahia State.