Abstract

This study was conducted to determine the prevalence, histopathological findings and aerobic bacteria flora associated with pneumopathies in goats slaughteredfor human consumption at the Nsukka abattoir. The lungs of 342 goats were examined for gross lesions and samples were collected for histopathological and bacteriological examinations. Microscopic findings of this study showed that a total of 136 (39.8%) of the samples had various types of pneumopathies including bronchopneumonia, interstitial pneumonia, hyperemia, haemorrhages, oedema, etc. Bronchopneumonia was observed in54 (39.70%) of the 136 lungs with pneumopathies while interstitial pneumonia and non-pneumonic pneumopathies were recorded in 44 (32.35%) and 38 (27.94%) respectively. Seventy-nine (58.11%) out of the examined 136, were recorded during the wet season and 57 (41.9%) in the dry season.  Ninety-six (70.6%) of the cases were found in Kano brown goats, 39(28.67%) in West African dwarf goats and 1(0.73%) in Sahel goats. More of the females examined had pneumopathies. Aerobic bacteria isolated from the lungs with pneumopathies were E. coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Mannheimia haemolytica, Streptococcus pyogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Proteus vulgaris and Pasteurella multocida. E. coli with a prevalence rate of 73.5% was the most predominant isolate. There was no significant association between the lung lesions observed and the associated aerobic bacterial isolates, seasons, sexes and breeds.

Keywords: Aerobic bacteria isolates, Bronchopneumonia, Interstitial pneumonia, Pneumopathies, prevalence