Histopathological Survey of Bovine Dermatophilosis in Cattle Slaughtered at Bodija Abattoir, Ibadan, Oyo State

Bovine dermatophilosis, caused by Dermatophilus congolensis, remains a persistent dermatological disease affecting cattle productivity in Nigeria's South West geopolitical zone. This study investigated the histopathological characteristics of dermatophilosis lesions in cattle presented at Bodija Municipal Abattoir, Ibadan, Oyo State, between January and December 2023. A total of 120 cattle carcasses were examined during routine ante-mortem and post-mortem inspections. Skin specimens from affected areas were collected, fixed in 10 percent neutral buffered formalin, processed by standard paraffin embedding techniques, sectioned at five micrometres, and stained with haematoxylin and eosin as well as Giemsa stain for bacterial identification. Gross lesions were characterised by thick, matted, paint-brush-like crusts with underlying suppurative dermatitis. Microscopically, lesions revealed acanthosis, orthokeratotic hyperkeratosis, intraepidermal pustules, and the presence of characteristic coccoid to filamentous organisms within the stratum corneum and superficial epidermis. The prevalence of dermatophilosis among examined cattle was 18.3 percent, with significantly higher occurrence during the wet season. Zebu breeds demonstrated lower susceptibility compared to crossbred animals. These findings align with recent literature documenting climatic influence on dermatophilosis outbreaks across sub-Saharan Africa. The study underscores the economic implications of the disease on leather quality and carcass condemnation. It is recommended that veterinary inspectorate services intensify surveillance during rainy seasons and that cattle traders adopt improved housing and husbandry practices to mitigate disease spread in abattoir populations. Keywords: dermatophilosis, histopathology, cattle, abattoir, Ibadan