Main Reasons for Seizure Encounters in Abéchés’ Slaughterhouses-Chad

A slaughterhouse serving as a butchery building can be a source of valuable information on the incidence of diseases and animals' conditions. Diseases cause economic losses in the cattle industry, mainly through mortality, seizure of organs and carcasses, reduction of meat production and increase expenditure for the animal's treatment. It also exposes the consumer to several dangers. The objective of this study was to identify the main reasons for seizures at the Abéché slaughterhouse in Chad. This was a retrospective and cross-sectional study of all cattle, camels, sheep and goats that were slaughtered daily by butchers over the period 2012 to 2016. Questionnaires were developed to collect the data. Data included specie, sex, age and race of the animals, as well as carcasses and organs suspected to be infected. All carcasses found unsuitable for human consumption were seized after ante-mortem and post-mortem inspections. The partial seizure concerned viscera with lesions. Carcasses of cattle, camels, sheep and goats were also inspected. The reasons for seizure were Tuberculosis (82.35%), Echinococcosis (11.76%) and Cysticercosis (5.88%). Tuberculosis concerned cattle and sheep while Cysticercosis and Echinococcosis were found in cattle and goats, respectively. The partial seizure concerned the livers and lungs of all carcasses. Significant differences were observed in the infection of bovine carcasses with tuberculosis and cysticercosis and, on the other hand, the most affected organ was cattles' livers followed by the lungs. The losses recorded in total seizures were about 1041.30 kg. Practical Applications It is urgent to continue the fighting against illegal slaughter and to carry out a rigorous sanitary control on slaughterhouses and butchers.