A study was carried out to determine the presence of and characterize Mycobacterium species in freshly drawn cow milk and nono in markets in Makurdi town, Nigeria, with a view to highlighting implications for public health. Two hundred and eighty five cows out of 590 cattle in three locations, and 90 ‘nono’ samples from 3 markets were studied, using acid-fast microscopy, culture and biochemical tests, from December 2005 to May 2006. Four (1.4%) of the 285 freshly drawn milk and 2 (2.2%) of the 90 ‘nono’ samples were Mycobacterium bovis positive. Mycobacterium africanum was detected in 1 (1.1%) of the nono samples. Mycobacterium bovis was detected in cows in the three settlements, and in milk samples from 2 of the 3 markets. February, March, April and May were the months with most positive samples. The presence of the zoonotic Mycobacterium species in cow milk presents a health hazard as it could be a source of extrapulmonary tuberculosis. Public health education, proper handling and processing of milk and milk products, and vaccination of cattle are recommended to prevent pathogen transmission.

Key words

Zoonotic, Mycobacterium species, milk,  Nigeria

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