title: Public Health Implications and Risk Factors Assessment of Mycobacterium bovis Infections among Abattoir Personnel in Bauchi State, Nigeria.
abstract: Bovine tuberculosis (bTB) is a chronic infectious and contagious zoonotic disease of domestic animals, wild animals, and humans. It poses a public health threat and economic losses due to abattoir condemnation of infected carcasses during meat inspection of slaughtered animals. Bovine tuberculosis is widespread in Africa including Nigeria affecting both cattle and humans, particularly Northern Nigeria. A prospective survey was conducted from June to August 2013 in the three Zonal abattoirs of Bauchi State, Nigeria. A total of 150 structured close-ended questionnaires were administered to abattoir personnel to assess their level of awareness of bTB. This study was aimed at determining the level of public health awareness, attitude, and practices of abattoir workers of bTB in Bauchi State, Nigeria. There was a statistically significant association between respondents' awareness of bTB and their occupational status, age, and duration of exposure to cattle carcasses (P < 0.05); the odds of being aware of bTB were 9.4, 7.3, and 2.1, respectively. In conclusion, these demonstrate the urgent need for public health authorities to intervene in bTB control. The risk of bTB transmission as indicated by the personnel's practices and awareness levels in Bauchi State could be prevented through the use of protective clothing (PPEs).
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University, PMB 1013, Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Sa'idu
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University, PMB 1013, Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: E C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Okolocha
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University, PMB 1013, Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Dzikwi
authors.affiliation: Area Veterinary Clinic (Kofar Ran), Ministry of Animal Resources and Normadic Resettlement, Bauchi State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Gamawa
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University, PMB 1013, Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ibrahim
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University, PMB 1013, Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: J K P
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Kwaga
authors.affiliation: TB Laboratory, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University, PMB 1013, Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Usman
authors.affiliation: University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, PMB 1069, Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Maigari