Camel Mastitis: Prevalence, Risk Factors, and Isolation of Major Bacterial Pathogens in Jigjiga District of Fafan Zone, Eastern Ethiopia
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Date
2023
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
A cross-sectional study was conducted from December 2022 to April 2023 to determine the prevalence, associated risk factors, and major bacterial pathogens causing mastitis in lactating camels in Jigjiga District of Fafan Zone, Eastern Ethiopia. A total of 324 lactating camels were randomly selected and examined for clinical and subclinical mastitis using the California Mastitis Test (CMT). The overall prevalence of camel mastitis was 33.6%, n=109, (95% CI: 28.5%-39.1%), with clinical mastitis of 6.5%, n=21, (95% CI: 4.0%-9.7%) and subclinical mastitis of 27.1%, n=88, (95%CI: 22.4%-32.3%). Out of 1296 teat quarters tested for mastitis, 23.8%, n=309, were found to be positive. Among the total affected quarters, 1.5%, n=19, and 22.7%, n=290 teats were found blind and CMT
positive, respectively. Among the putative risk factors assessed in this study, age, body condition score, and use of anti-suckling devices were significantly associated (p<0.05) with the occurrence of camel mastitis. The odds of mastitis occurrence were nearly four times (AOR: 3.40) (95%CI =1.61–7.17, P=0.001) and 4.20 (95%CI =1.97-8.94, P =0.000) higher for medium and poor body condition scores, respectively, as compared to a good body condition score. Adult camels were nearly five times (AOR: 5.27; 95%CI=2.81–9.90, P=0.000) more likely to be infected than their young counterparts. Mid lactation (AOR:
0.22, 95%CI: 0.10–0.45, P = 0.000) and late lactation (AOR: 0.23,95% CI:0.11–0.48, P=0.000) were statistically found to be protective as compared to the early lactation stage. Likewise, utilization of an anti-suckling device exhibited a significant association (AOR: 10.08; 95% CI=5.16–19.69, p =0.000) with the prevalence of mastitis. Among the 290 quarter milk samples that tested positive for CMT, 109 were subjected to bacteriological analysis. Of these, 89% (97/109) yielded mastitis bacteria, whereas 11% (12/109) displayed no growth. Of the total bacterial isolates, coagulase-negative Staphylococci(26.8%;26/97) were the most frequent bacterial isolates, whereas Streptococcus agalactiae(5.1%;5/97) was the least isolated bacterial pathogen. From the 34 households owningcamels interviewed, 88.2% (30/34) of them responded that they were aware of clinical mastitis, whereas all were not aware of subclinical mastitis. The current study revealed a high prevalence of camel mastitis linked to several risk factors. Prevention and control strategies should be implemented to reduce the prevalence of camel mastitis, including regular cleaning of the udder, milking camels with mastitis at the end, timely treatment, and not using anti-suckling devices.
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Keywords
Bacterial, Camel-mastitis, Ethiopia, Milk, Prevalence