Preliminary Prevalence and Risk Factors of Mycobacterium bovis in Local and Imported Breeds of Cattle and Buffaloes in Mosul city, Iraq

THE objectives of the present study were to (i) investigate the prevalence of bovine tuberculosis in cattle and buffalo in Mosul, (ii) examine potential risk factors (source of animals, sex, and age), and (iii) indicate clinical signs associated to BTB in affected animals. A total of 196 animals (106 cattle and 90 buffalo) from different areas in Mosul. Serum antibodies againstbovine TB infection were examined by indirect ELISA. Prevalence was calculated, and potential risk factors and clinical signs associated to seropositive TB were examined using conditional logistic regression. Results indicated that the overall prevalence of bovine tuberculosis was 12.2% (18.9% in cattle, which was significantly higher than that (4.4%) in buffalo). The odds of seropositive for TB in imported cattle and female were 3 times higher, compared to local and male. There was no significant difference between age groups.Seropositive TB animals showed higher odds of having weakness and enlargement of lymph nodes, compared to those tested negative. All animals tested positive for TB exhibited intermittent hacking cough. In conclusion, tuberculosis is evident in bovine in Mosul, particularly in cattle, and the infection in imported cattle is a critical concern. Bovine TB should be considered in the differential diagnosis when the animals weak, exhibiting intermittent hacking cough, and having enlarged peripheral lymph nodes.