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

Abstract

A cross-sectional study was conducted from November 2011 to March 2012 on lactating dairy cows to determine the overall prevalence of bovine mastitis, identify associated risk factors and isolate the predominant bacterial agents involved in causing mastitis in and around Wolaita Sodo. A total of 349 lactating cows were examined for mastitis using clinical examination and California mastitis test (CMT). Bacteriological methods were also employed to isolate the causative bacteria. An overall 29.5% (95% CI: 24.7, 34.3) prevalence of mastitis was recorded in the area of which 2.6% (95% CI: 0.9, 4.3) were clinical and 26.9% (95% CI: 22.2, 31.6) subclinical cases. About 90 bacterial isolates belonging to 6 species were identified from mastitic milk samples. The isolates based on their relative frequency of occurrence were Staphylococcus aureus (30%), Streptococcus agalactiae (17.78%), Escherichia coli (17.78%), Staphylococcus epidermids (13.3%), Corynebacterium bovis (12.2%) and Streptococcus dysgalactiae (8.9%). The prevalence of mastitis varied significantly (p<0.05) among breeds, where the highest prevalence was recorded in Jersey (60% (95% CI: 49.3, 70.7)), followed by Holstein-Zebu cross (30.8% (95% CI: 22.9, 38.7)) and Zebu (10.8% (95% CI: 5.6, 16.0)). It was also appreciated that lactation stage and parity significantly (p<0.05) influenced the occurrence of mastitis. Animals at early stage of lactation were severely affected with mastitis than at end and mid lactation stages. The prevalence of mastitis was found to have a direct relation with parity, as the occurrence of mastitis increased with parity. Inadequate sanitation of dairy environment and lack of proper attention to health of mammary gland were important factors (P<0.05) contributing to the prevalence of mastitis. Generally, the study showed that mastitis is an important problem and a serious threat for dairy industry in the study area. Therefore, appropriate control measures targeting the specific causative agents should be in place to reduce the impact of the disease. The farmers should also be aware of the impact of the disease and practice hygienic milking, culling of chronic mastitis carriers and treating of clinically infected cows.

Isolation, identification and drug resistance patterns of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus from mastitic cows milk from selected dairy farms in and around Kombolcha, Ethiopia

“…This study was in contrast to previous reports of Mulugeta and Wassie (2013);Biffa et al (2005) and Tamirat (2007) showed that higher infection in cows is occurred at early stage of lactation followed by late and medium stages of lactation. Radostits et al (2007) suggested that, the mammary gland is more susceptible to new infection during the early and late dry period, which may be due to the absence of udder washing and teat dipping, which in turn may have increased the presence of potential pathogens on the skin of the teat.…”

“…The current finding of the study is comparably higher than the work of Kerro and Tareke (2003) who recorded 40% in cows and 19% in quarters in Southern Ethiopia. The infection rate in cows was also higher than that of Bitew et al (2010) and Mulugeta and Wassie (2013), who reported an overall prevalence of 28.8% in Bahir Dar and 29.5% around Wolaita Sodo, respectively. Since mastitis is a complex disease and the difference in results could be due to difference in management system of the farm, difference in drug usage and the geographical locations of the studies.…”

Isolation, Identification and Antimicrobial Resistance Profile of Staphylococcus aureus and Occurrence of Methicillin Resistant S. aureus Isolated from Mastitic Lactating Cows in and around Assosa Town, Benishangul Gumuz Region, Ethiopia

“…This report is relatively similar with the assertion by [16] that in most countries and irrespective of the cause, the prevalence of mastitis is about 50% in cows and 25% in quarters. Besides, this result was in line with the findings of [22] at Bahir Dar and [23] around Wolaita Sodo, 28.8%, 29.5% in cows respectively. However, the current prevalence is lower when compared with the previous findings as 56% in and around Kombolcha town [24].…”

“…Occurrence of mastitis was significantly associated with milking hygienic practice. Cows at farms with poor milking hygiene standard are severely affected (53.69%) than those with good milking hygiene practices (23.20 %) [23,27,34]. This might be due to absence of udder washing, milking of cows with common milkers' and using of common udder cloths, which could be vectors of spread especially for contagious mastitis [16].…”

Prevalence, risk factors and multidrug resistance profile of Staphylococcus aureus isolated from bovine mastitis in selected dairy farms in and around Asella town, Arsi Zone, South Eastern Ethiopia

“…Poor udder hygiene (OR = 2.040, 95%CI: 1.184, 3.514) were more likely to be infected with S. aureus. The present observation was in line with the report of Mulugeta and Wassie (2013). Sanitary milking habits are important to avoid the spreading of bacteria or their proliferation.…”