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Open Access Journal of Veterinary Science & Research Research Article 11 min read

Epidemiology of Bovine Mastitis and Associated Risk Factors in East Shewa Zone of Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia

Hajie S* and Teka G*
* Corresponding author
ISSN: 2474-9222  10.23880/oajvsr-16000129  Received: February 22, 2017  Published: March 21, 2017
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Keywords
Prevalence Subclinical Mastitis Risk East Shewa
Abstract

A cross sectional study was conducted in selected districts of East Shewa Zone of Oromia Regional Stat from November 2013 to April 2014 on dairy cows to determine the prevalence of mastitis and determinant of its major risk factors. The study was done on 250 lactating cows, of which 109 were local and 141 cross breed by using clinical examination , California mastitis test (CMT) and culture. Of these 108 (43.2%) were positive by clinical examination and CMT for clinical and sub clinical mastitis, with prevalence of 4% and 38.8%, respectively. All the potential risk factors considered in this study namely, parity ( p<0.05), breed (p<0.05), age (p<0.05), stage of lactation (p < 0.05), breed (p<0.05) and husbandry (p<0.05) showed a significant effect on prevalence of mastitis in present study. Thus, high prevalencence of mastitis was observed in older cows >7 years and cows with parity >7 but high prevalence was obtained on early and late stage of lactation. The study also revealed that cross breed lactating cows and those managed intensively were susceptible to mastitis. The highly prevalent bacteria isolated were Staphylococcus aurous (46%) followed by Streptococcus agalactiae which accounts (19.4%), and others were Staphylococcus intermidius, E.coli and Corynebacterial species with respective proportion of 16.6, 10.9 and 7.1%. The present study also revealed that mastitis is the major problem in smallholder dairy farms in the study area specially the sub clinical form, so that creation of awareness about the importance and prevention of subclinical mastitis among smallholder dairy farmers, milking infected animals and periodic monitoring of infection status of the udder is recommended.

Introduction

In Ethiopia, livestock represents a major national resource and form an integral part of agricultural production system [1] of which dairy sector has large potential market for development and its growth is expected to continue for the next one to two decades due to the growth of income, increased urbanization and policy improvement. Thus, the development of smallholder dairy production sector in the country contributes in poverty alleviation by generating income through self-employment. Cows represent the largest proportion of the cattle population of the country; however, the milk production does not satisfy the country’s requirements due to multitude factors. Disease of the mammary gland known as mastitis is the Open Access Journal of Veterinary Science & Research

major contributing factor in the reduction of milk production [2], and it is among the most important diseases in dairy animals with worldwide distribution [3]. Mastitis has a negative effect on the image of dairy production chain. Although these factors have an economic impact on dairy production, more losses may occur on the dairy producer level, due to culling of the infected cow, veterinary costs, extra-labor costs, disposed milk, reduced slaughter value, and reduced reproductive performance [4, 5]. Mastitis is a multi factorial disease. As such, its incidence depends on exposure to pathogens, effectiveness of udder defense mechanisms, and presence of environmental risk factors, as well as interactions between these factors [6]. Most commonly, mastitis begins as a result of penetration of the teat duct by pathogenic bacteria [7]. However, some viral diseases affecting the epithelium of the teat orifice are mentioned to result in or predispose to mastitis [8]. The most commonly incriminated and reported causes of mastitis include Staphylococcus aurous, Streptococcus agalactiae, Streptococcus species other than Streptococcus agalactiae, coagulase negative Staphylococci species, Escherichia coli, Micrococcus species, Corynebacterium species, Bacillus species, Pasteurella species, Klebsiella species, Mycoplasma species and Nocardia species [9, 10, 11]. Mastitis can be either clinical (CM) that give rise to visible symptoms or subclinical. Mild CM causes flakes or clots in the milk, whereas severe cases are associated with heat, swelling and discoloration of the udder, as well as abnormal secretion. Severe CM can also exhibit systemic reactions, such as fever and loss of appetite. Mastitis can exist in the absence of visible signs of infection, and is then referred to as subclinical mastitis (SCM). SCM is the most prevalent form of mastitis [12]. The greatest risk of acquiring mastitis occurs in the first 50 days of lactation and in the early part of the dry period. The risk of clinical mastitis also increases with increasing parity [10]. In practice, whether a case of mastitis is classified as clinical or subclinical often depends on how carefully the cow is observed when diagnosis is made [13]. Transmission occurs mainly at milking time through contaminated milking machines, clothes and hands of milkers or machine operators. Contagious mastitis is transmitted from cow to cow by pathogens for which the udder is the primary reservoir. It tends to be sub-clinical in nature. Bacteria that live onthe skin of the teat and inside the udder [14] mostly cause it. The primary reservoir of contagious pathogens is the mammary gland itself [15]. This disease also posses the risk for the transmission of zoonotic diseases like tuberculosis, brucellosis, leptospirosis and streptococcal sore throat to human beings [5]. Treating subclinical mastitis with antimicrobials during lactation is seldom economical, because of high treatment costs and generally poor efficacy. All mastitis treatment should be evidence-based, i.e., the efficacy of each product and treatment length should be demonstrated by scientific studies. Because of the diverse bacterial etiologies of the disease, a variety of control method involving hygiene prior to, during and after milking are used to minimize exposure of cows to mastitis causing organisms. Despite these procedures, new cases of mastitis invariably occur and antimicrobial therapy plays a role in the control of bovine mastitis [16]. This study aimed to assess contribution of risks factors to mastitis prevalence and to evaluate the link between selected risk factors and the prevalence of bovine mastitis in East shewa zone of oromia region.

Materials and Methods

Study Area and period

The study was conducted from November 2013 to April 2014, in Oromia Region; East shewa Zone. The area is located at 74km from Addis Ababa and 27 km from Bishoftu, at Longitude between 38º56’E-39 º17’E and Latitude 8º34’N - 8º34’N. The average Elevation of the area is 1780m above sea level. The area have average annual rain fall 969.35mm, and mean annual temperature of 20.4 ºC. Management system of the animals is extensive production system. The main farming system is mixed farming and sheep are the predominant animal species kept in the area. Traditional housing and grazing of natural pasture are the predominant husbandry practice. The total animal population of the woreda is 752,612; among which 99,862 are cattles, 26,693 sheep, 25,136 goats, and 64,094 poultry. Study Design and Population: A cross-sectional study was conducted on randomly selected local and cross breed lactating cows, selected from different peasant associations (PAs). Simple random sampling was considered to select the animals. Sample Size Determination: The sample size was determined at 95% confidence level, 5% precision. Thus, the sample size value was read from Thrusfeild [17] sample size Table to be 380 animals. But due to lack of cooperation in different peasant associations which is more of extensive system, it is impossible to get lactating cows at a time. As a result 250 lactating cows were included in the investigation. n= 1.962 Pexp (1-Pexp) d2 Where; n= required sample size Pexp=expected prevalence d= required precision

  • Open Access Journal of Veterinary Science & Research
  • Results
  • Prevalence of Mastitis: The prevalence of mastitis at cow 43% (108/250). From the total of 250 lactating cows examined 12 (4%) had clinical and 96 (38.8%) had subclinical mastitis, (Table 1).
  • Prevalence of
  • Mastitis Positive
  • Type of Mastitis
  • Number of
  • Positive
  • %
  • Clinical mastitis
  • 12
  • 4
  • Subclinical mastitis
  • 96
  • 38.8
  • Total
  • 108
  • 43

Table 1: Prevalence of clinical and sub clinical mastitis

Table 2 shows the association between the occurrence of mastitis in the selected cows and different potential risk factors. Accordingly, mastitis prevalence showed significant variation among different age groups (p < 0.05), husbandry system (p< 0.05), parity number (p< 0.05) and lactation stages (p < 0.05). Cows in their early and late stage of lactation suffered most from mastitis compared to cows in their mid stage of lactation. Cows managed intensively (p< 0.05) was highly susceptible to mastitis when compared to those managed extensively with respective number and percent of 85(73.9%) and 23 (17.03%) among the totally examined animals. Mastitis prevalence also increased with an increase in cow dirtiness

CowMastitis%Mastitis
Number
dirtinesspositive
NegativePositive
Very dirty47192811.2
Moderately
dirty		122774518
Slightly
dirty		81463514
Total25014210843.2

Table 2: Mastitis Prevalence In Relation To Cow Cleanness Scores.

Open Access Journal of Veterinary Science & Research

Risk factors Group Number Positive X2 p-value Age(yr)

6-Apr 154 36 >7 61 51

Lactation stage

6-Apr 82 38 (month) >7 105 21

Parity

6-Apr 102 25 >7 103 65

Breed cross 109 73 15.55 0

local 141 35

4-Feb 35 21 8.75 0

3-Jan 63 49 8.01 0

3-Jan 45 18 5.3 0.016

  • Extensive
  • 135
  • 43

Table 3: Prevalence of mastitis in relation to different risk factors.

Bacteriological Results

Up on culturing milk from 280 positive quarters on bacteriological media 211 different isolates were obtained. Among the total isolated Staphylococcus aureus accounted for the highest percent (46 %) followed by Streptococcus agalactiae which accounted for 19.4 %. Others were E. coli which was (10.9%), Staphylococcus intermidius (16.6%) and Corynebacterial species which was 7.1% (Table 4).

Bacterial species Number of isolates (n=280) % Prevalence

Streptococcus

agalactiae 41 19.4 Staphylococcus

aureus 97 46 Escherichia coli 23 10.9 Staphylococcus

intermidius 35 16.6 Corynebacterial

species 15 7.1

  • Total
  • 211
  • 75.4

Table 4: Bacterial Species Isolated From Bovine Mastitis

Discussion

The overall prevalence of mastitis 43.2% at cow level was comparable to the findings of Workineh et al. [11], Bishi [20], Mungube et al. [21] and Fekadu [22] who reported 40.4% in southern Ethiopia, 38.2% in Adami- Tulu central Ethiopia, 39.8% in and around Addis Ababa. However, it is relatively lower than the study of Lakew et al. [23] and Zeryehun et al. [24] that got 71.1% from Holeta, 52.8% from Sebeta, 64.6% from Assela and Open Access Journal of Veterinary Science & Research

contagious pathogen transmitted from one cow to another or individual by contact with animals during unhygienic milking procedures [5]. The next most prevalent bacteria isolated was Streptococcus agalactiae (19.4%) followed by Staphylococcus intermidius, E. coli and the least of bacterial isolated in the area was coryne bacterial species with their respective percent of 16.6, 10.9 and 7.1.

Conclusion and Recommendation

The overall prevalence of mastitis in East shewa zone was 43.2%. This indicates that mastitis is a serious problem across herds in this area. The main risk factors associated with the prevalence of mastitis, in order of importance, parity, age, and cow dirtiness, stage of lactation, breed and husbandry. Mastitis infections were largely caused by Staph. aureus (46%) and environmental staphylococci (16.6%). These micro- organisms are associated with poor hygiene and contamination of udders and milking equipment with soil and faeces. It is recommended that dairy farmers in East shewa zone introduce mastitis control programmers, particularly teat dipping, dry cow therapy and effective treatment of clinical mastitis, to reduce the high prevalence of mastitis in their herds. Moreover, extension services and training programs aiming at creation of awareness about the importance and prevention of subclinical mastitis among smallholder dairy farmers, milking infected animals and their respective quarters at last and periodic monitoring of infection status of the udder is recommended.

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@article{hajie2017,
  title   = {Epidemiology of Bovine Mastitis and Associated Risk
Factors in East Shewa Zone of Oromia Regional State,
Ethiopia},
  author  = {Hajie S* and Teka G},
  journal = {Open Access Journal of Veterinary Science & Research},
  year    = {2017},
  volume  = {2},
  number  = {2},
  doi     = {10.23880/oajvsr-16000129}
}
Hajie S* and Teka G (2017). Epidemiology of Bovine Mastitis and Associated Risk
Factors in East Shewa Zone of Oromia Regional State,
Ethiopia. Open Access Journal of Veterinary Science & Research, 2(2). https://doi.org/10.23880/oajvsr-16000129
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Epidemiology of Bovine Mastitis and Associated Risk
Factors in East Shewa Zone of Oromia Regional State,
Ethiopia
AU  - Hajie S* and Teka G
JO  - Open Access Journal of Veterinary Science & Research
PY  - 2017
VL  - 2
IS  - 2
DO  - 10.23880/oajvsr-16000129
ER  -