Risk factors associated with prevalence and major bacterial causes of mastitis in dromedary camels (Camelus dromedarius) under different production systems

Trop Anim Health Prod. 2012 Jan;44(1):107-12. doi: 10.1007/s11250-011-9895-0. Epub 2011 Jun 11.

Abstract

A cross-sectional study was conducted in desert environment of Jhang (Pakistan) from November 2008 to October 2009 on she-camels kept under pastoralist conditions to determine the prevalence of mastitis, impact of risk factors, and isolate the dominant mastitis-causing bacteria on total of 150 lactating she-camels by using clinical examination and surf field mastitis test. From the 150 she-camels examined, 69 (46%) were positive for mastitis at animal level, 12 (8%) clinical, and 57 (38%) subclinical. Age, parity number, stage of lactation, breed, production system, hygiene of milking process, and presence of lesion on udder/teat were found significantly associated (p<0.05) with the prevalence of mastitis in she-camels. There was the lowest prevalence (33.33%; 15 of 45) of mastitis in she-camels of 5-7 years of age, while the highest (80%; 12 of 15) in the animals aged between 14 to 16 years. Stage of lactation significantly affected (p<0.05) and was found to be associated with the prevalence of mastitis being the highest (54.55%; 18 of 33) during the initial stage of lactation (0 to 1 month) followed by last 2 months (10-12 months) as 54.17% and mid-stages (1-3 and 3-10 months) of lactation as 28.57% (6 of 21) and 37.50% (9 of 24), respectively. According to breed of camels, it was noted that the prevalence of mastitis affected significantly (p<0.05) being the highest in crossbred (Desi × Mareecha) as 51.39% (37 of 72) followed in order by Mareecha and Desi as 43.14% and 37.04%, respectively. Staphylococcus (42.19%) and Streptococcus (15.63%) genera were the dominant isolates identified. Good hygiene in milking process, milking clinically infected she-camels at last, culling chronic mastitis carriers, treating clinically infected she-camels, and dry period therapy could reduce the prevalence of contagious mastitis in the study area.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study

MeSH terms

  • Age Factors
  • Animals
  • Asymptomatic Infections / epidemiology
  • Bacteria / isolation & purification
  • Bacteriological Techniques / methods*
  • Bacteriological Techniques / veterinary
  • Camelus*
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Detergents / chemistry
  • Female
  • Lactation
  • Mastitis / diagnosis
  • Mastitis / epidemiology
  • Mastitis / microbiology
  • Mastitis / veterinary*
  • Pakistan / epidemiology
  • Pedigree
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Prevalence
  • Risk Factors
  • Species Specificity
  • Staphylococcus / isolation & purification*
  • Streptococcus / isolation & purification*

Substances

  • Detergents