Prevalence, gross and microscopic lung lesions of cattle slaughtered in Kampala city Abattoir, Uganda

Abstract

Respiratory diseases by nature spread rapidly or are zoonotic and often lead to lung condemnations, and reduced cattle productivity. There is scanty information about prevalent respiratory diseases in Uganda. This cross sectional study was conducted to establish the prevalence of cattle lung lesions and their gross, and microscopic manifestation in cattle slaughtered at KCCA Abattoir. The study was done from June to July, 2023. Systematic random sampling by picking the third animal in line of slaughter was used. Data and Samples were collected eight times within one month, noting identification data of the cattle sampled. Lungs of sampled cattle were subjected to thorough gross examination for lesions through visual inspection, palpation and where necessary, incision in accordance with the meat inspection manual of FAO (1914), and the occurrence of lesions recorded. Lungs from 276 cattle were grossly examined and tissues from the lungs with diseases were collected, fixed in buffered formalin and processed for routine histopathology by Haematoxylin and Eosin. Of the 276 cattle lungs examined grossly, 87 had lesions, accounting for the prevalence of 31.52%. Grossly the most prevalent lung lesion was pneumonia (30.07%), followed by pulmonary consolidation (13.73%), pleuritis (12.42%), pulmonary emphysema (11.76%), congestion (7.84%), calcification and atelectasis each accounting for (5.23%), pulmonary edema and abscesses accounting for (3.92 %), pulmonary hemorrhages (3.27%), and hydatid cysts being the least (2.61%). This study shows that pneumonia of various types and causes is common among cattle slaughtered in the city abattoir. More studies employing culture techniques and other molecular tools are required to define the causes of the pulmonary lesions.