Abattoir Based Study on the Pathology of Tuberculosis in Dromedary Camels, Ethiopia

In Eastern Africa, Ethiopia has the largest pastoralist population (7-8 millions) representing around 20 ethnic groups Pastoralists depend on livestock for their livelihood, moving seasonally from place to place in search of water and pasture for their animals In these communities, animal products such as milk consumed raw and this habit combined with close physical contact and sharing the same dwelling with their animals create a potential public health concern for transmission of zoonotic diseases such as tuberculosis (TB). The dromedary camels have an estimated world population of 18 million across the arid and semi-arid environments of African and Asian countries. In Africa, dromedary population of about 15 million accounts for about 74% of the world and of these, 60% are found in East African countries (Somalia, 6.2 million; Sudan, 2.8 million; Ethiopia, 1.7 million; Kenya, 0.9million) The threat posed by increasing and prolonged periods of drought particularly in arid and semi-arid areas of Africa has forced pastoralists to undergo adaptive strategies such as herd diversification, where emphasis on camel husbandry is becoming a priority.