Hematological and serum biochemical alterations in White Fulani cattle with tuberculous lesions

Abstract

This study assessed hematological and serum biochemical alterations associated with the occurrence of tuberculous lesions in slaughtered White Fulani cattle at Nsukka abattoir, Enugu State, Nigeria. Diagnosis was confirmed by the immunochromatographic technique and histopathology. Out of 567 cattle examined, ten (1.76%) had tuberculous lesions. The tuberculous cattle had normocytic normochromic anemia, leukocytosis, lymphocytosis, eosinophilia and an increased erythrocyte sedimentation rate. They also had significantly lower (p < 0.05) serum alanine aminotransferase, albumin and urea, and significantly higher (p < 0.05) serum globulin than the apparently healthy control animals. We concluded that the occurrence of tubercles in cattle was associated with alterations in hematological and serum biochemical parameters, which may be relevant to the establishment of an antemortem diagnosis of tuberculosis.