Journal of
Veterinary Medicine and Animal Health

  • Abbreviation: J. Vet. Med. Anim. Health
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 2141-2529
  • DOI: 10.5897/JVMAH
  • Start Year: 2009
  • Published Articles: 416

Full Length Research Paper

Prevalence and risk factors associated with subclinical mastitis in lactating dairy cows under smallholder dairy farming in North East Tanzania

Damian Kilyenyi
  • Damian Kilyenyi
  • Department of Global Health and Biomedical Sciences, School of Life Science and Bio-Engineering, Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology, P. O. Box 447, Arusha, Tanzania.
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Robinson Mdegela
  • Robinson Mdegela
  • Department of Veterinary Medicine and Public Health, School of Veterinary Medicine and Biotechnology, Sokoine University of Agriculture, P. O. Box 3000 Morogoro, Tanzania.
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Lughano Kusiluka
  • Lughano Kusiluka
  • Office of Vice Chancellor, Mzumbe University, P. O. Box 1, Morogoro, Tanzania.
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Gabriel Shirima
  • Gabriel Shirima
  • Department of Global Health and Biomedical Sciences, School of Life Science and Bio-Engineering, Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology, P. O. Box 447, Arusha, Tanzania.
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  •  Received: 16 May 2020
  •  Accepted: 10 November 2020
  •  Published: 31 March 2021

Abstract

A cross-sectional survey was carried out between October 2016 and May 2017 to determine the prevalence of subclinical mastitis (SCM), associated bacterial pathogens and risk factors under smallholdersmall holder dairy farms in North East Tanzania. The study involved 195 cross breed dairy cows from 130 dairy farms. Data were collected based on questionnaire interview, direct observation, screening using California Mastitis Test (CMT) and culture of bacteria. The overall prevalence of SCM based on California Mastitis Test (CMT) was 70.8 and 66.4% and bacteria isolation recorded at 56.4 and 38.4% at cow and quarter levels, respectively. Prevalence defined by CMT was significantly (p<0.0001) associated with wet-dirty bedding material (OR=11.61) and poor udder (OR =6.67). Increased culture-positivity at quarter level was significantly associated with CMT-positive cows (OR= 20.59), teat injuries (OR=23.56), wooden floor (OR=2.02) and poor udder hygiene (OR =2.16). Stripping method of hand milking and first and second parity were significantly associated with lower prevalence of CMT-positive cows and culture positive quarters (p<0.05). Major bacteria species isolated included Staphylococcus aureus (55.4%), Staphylococcus epidermidis (10.8%), Escherichia coli (7.9%) and Streptococcus agalactiae (5.9%). This study demonstrated SCM is a major health constraint of dairy cattle in North Eastern Tanzania.

Key words: Prevalence, Subclinical -mastitis, California Mastitis Test, bacteria, risk factors.

Copyright © 2024 Author(s) retain the copyright of this article.

This article is published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0

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