Prevalence of Staphylococci from Bovine Subclinical Mastitis and Assessment on Hygienic Practices in Dairy Farms, Eastern Ethiopia
Bayan Ahmed*, Ahmeddin Shafi and Abdi Hassen
Department of Veterinary Medicine, Chelenko Veterinary Clinic, Meta Woreda, Eastern Harerghe, Ethiopia
*Corresponding Author: Bayan Ahmed, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Chelenko Veterinary Clinic, Meta Woreda, Eastern Harerghe, Ethiopia.
Published: October 10, 2023
Abstract
A cross-sectional study was conducted from June 2022 to April 2023 to isolate of staphylococci in bovine subclinical mastitis, to establishing prevalence, to identify risk factors and to assess on hygienic handling practice of raw cow’s milk in each selected dairy farm in Eastern Ethiopia. A semi-structured questionnaire survey and observation, California mastitis test (CMT), bacterial isolation and identification were conducted during the study. A total of 379 dairy cattle from dairy farms were screened for SCM by CMT. The prevalence of SCM in the study areas was 206(54.3%). Milk samples were collected from 206 cows free of clinical mastitis but positive in CMT. The prevalence of staphylococcal species among lactating cows with subclinical mastitis was 82.5%. The prevalence 92(44%) of Coagulase Negative Staphylococcus was higher than the Staphylococcus Aurous 78(37%). Among the risk factors studied, SCM due to staphylococci was significantly higher (P < 0.05) in older cows (94.3%) than younger (58.6%), in cows during late lactation (91.9%), in cows which gave more than 5 births (87%), in cross-breed cows (65.3%) than local breed cows (25.7%). Respondents with the age group ranging from 25 to 50 years and better educational level were acquainted that drinking raw milk is possible sources for staphylococci. This suggesting that more work on awareness creation is required in society with lower educational level compared to the society with better educational level. In addition, this is an opportunity to create awareness towards the prevention and control of zoonosis in actively involved group of society. Observational assessment of the milk handling practices in dairy farms showed that about (55.5%) of them were not washed their hands before milking. The study showed that the hygienic status of the udder and houses of lactating cows in the majority of dairy farms in the study area are poor, and the prevalence of subclinical mastitis and staphylococcal species are high. Based on results, creating the awareness, careful hygienic milking practice and regular health monitoring should be practiced to reduce prevalence of subclinical mastitis and staphylococcal infection.
Keywords: Hygiene; Lactating cow; Milk; Prevalence; Subclinical Mastitis; Staphylococci
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