Prevalence, bacterial causes, and antimicrobial susceptibility profile of mastitis isolates from cows in large-scale dairy farms of Northern Ethiopia

Abstract

The study was undertaken to determine the prevalence of bovine mastitis, isolate mastitis causing bacteria, assess the association of some risk factors, and determine the antibiotic resistance pattern of bacterial isolates in cows in large-scale dairy farms of Northern Ethiopia. A total of 305 lactating and nonlactating cows were included in the present study. The overall prevalence of clinical and subclinical mastitis was 3.6 and 33.8 %, respectively. The quarter level prevalence was 15.4 %; from which, 11.9 and 1.1 % were subclinical form and blind teat, respectively, while the remaining 2.4 % were of clinical form. Staphylococcus aureus accounted for 36 % of the isolates followed by Escherichia coli (27.3 %). Risk factors including age (p < 0.001), parity (p < 0.001), and lactation stage (p = 0.02) showed significant association with the occurrence of mastitis. Higher prevalence was observed in both groups of older cows (i.e., 6-9 years (odds ratio (OR) = 4.65, 95 % confidence interval (CI) = 2.74-7.89) and >9 years (OR = 3.63, 95 % CI = 1.42-9.25)), cows with four to seven calves (OR = 3.39, 95 % CI = 2.06-5.60), and cows in late lactation stage (OR = 3.79, 95 % CI = 1.64-8.75). In multivariable logistic regression analysis, age (p = 0.005) and lactation stage (p = 0.027) showed statistically significant association with the occurrence of mastitis. The antimicrobial susceptibility pattern showed high susceptibility of S. aureus to nalidixic acid (82.4 %) followed by chloramphenicol (58.8 %); however, these species were resistant to the rest of the antimicrobials tested. Highest resistance was observed against clindamycin and ampicillin. Coliform bacteria (E. coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae) showed resistance to most of the antimicrobials used. Detailed investigation is needed to identify the interplay of managemental and environmental risk factors to design appropriate control measures.

Prevalence, risk factors and major bacterial causes of bovine mastitis in and around Wolaita Sodo, Southern Ethiopia

“…The finding of 5.5% blind teat in this work is in agreement with the previous reports (Almaw et al, 2008;Lakew et al, 2009) and higher when compared with the report of Haftu et al (2012) and Bitew et al (2010). The blind quarters observed in this study might be an indication of a serious mastitis problem on the farms and of the absence of culling that should have served to remove a source of mammary pathogens for the cows.…”

“…The quarter level mastitis prevalence (17.9%) recorded in the current study is comparable with the finding of Haftu et al (2012). The finding of 5.5% blind teat in this work is in agreement with the previous reports (Almaw et al, 2008;Lakew et al, 2009) and higher when compared with the report of Haftu et al (2012) and Bitew et al (2010).…”

“…The results of both clinical and subclinical mastitis in this study are also incomparable with those previous reports in Ethiopia (Sori et al, 2005;Biffa et al, 2005;Lakew et al, 2009). In most reports including the present study, clinical mastitis is far lower than subclinical mastitis (Sori et al, 2005;Biffa et al, 2005;Almaw et al, 2008;Lakew et al, 2009;Haftu et al, 2012). This could be attributed to little attention given to subclinical mastitis, as the infected animal shows no obvious symptoms and secrets apparently normal milk and farmers, especially small holders, are not well informed about invisible loss from sub clinical mastitis.…”

Isolation, identifications and antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of coagulase positive <i>Staphylococcus</i> from subclinical mastitic dairy cattle in and around Haramaya University

“…This could be due to anatomically large pendulous udder of cross breed cows which can be easily exposed to environmental injuries which in turn predispose cows to suffer from mastitis. Age wise the present study indicate significantly (P <0.05) higher CPS infection at advanced age which is in agreement with the finding of Rigbe Haftu et al, (2012). This is probably due to prolonged period of exposure to the infecting organisms and predisposing factors like stress of lactation which favor dilation of teat canal due to repeat milking thereby facilitating the entry of pathogens into the teat canal to cause subclinical intramammary infection (Shittu et al, 2012).…”

Screening of Bovine Mastitis in Lactating Dairy Cows in and around Debra TSIGE Town, North Ethiopia

“…Additional agreement to other reports; clinical mastitis is far lower than subclinical mastitis [10,32,33]. This could be attributed to little attention given to subclinical mastitis, as the infected animal shows no obvious symptoms and secrets apparently normal milk and farmers, especially small holders, are not well informed about invisible loss from subclinical mastitis.…”