Abstract:
The prevalence of caprine subclinical mastitis in Khartoum State was
assessed by California Mastitis Test. Milk samples were also analyzed for
the isolation and identification of bacterial agents that might be associated
with caprine subclinical mastitis including their antibiotic sensitivity test
against commonly used antibiotics. In addition, the influence of certain
risk factors on the prevalence of caprine subclinical mastitis was also
evaluated. Milk samples were collected from 246 goats (475 udder
halves). The overall prevalence of caprine subclinical mastitis as
determined by California mastitis test was 13.8%. On an udder half basis
the prevalence was 10.1%. Certain risk factors associated with caprine
subclinical mastitis, were identified. The prevalence was higher in ≥5
years old animals (p-value = 0.000; Exp (B) = 5.559; 95.0% CI: 2.149 to
14.376), ≥4 parity (p-value = 0.022; Exp (B) = 3.660; 95.0% CI: 1.206 to
11.103), poor body condition (p-value = 0.009; Exp (B) = 6.130; 95.0%
CI: 1.655 to 23.987), and in goats with udder lesions (p-value = 0.013;
Exp (B) = 10.532; 95.0% CI: 1.653 to 67.093). The prevalence was also
higher in farms where mastitic goats were kept together with healthy ones
in the same house (p-value = 0.028; Exp (B) = 6.343; 95.0% CI: 1.215 to
33.100). The predominant bacterial species isolated from milk that were
collected from the subclinical mastitis positive cases were
Coagulase-negative staphylococcus 34.2%, Staphylococcus aureus
23.7%, Micrococcus spp. 15.8%, Bacillus spp. 18.4%, Streptococcus spp.
2.6%, and mixed bacteria 5.3%. These isolates of bacteria showed various
degrees of sensitivity to the antibiotics used in the study. It is suggested
that because of the prevalence of subclinical mastitis in this species of
animal, farmers should be aware of the problem so as to institute
preventive and control measures to reduce losses due to this disease in
dairy goats.
