Observations on the prevalence of caprine mastitis in relation to predisposing factors in Maiduguri

Abstract

Mastitis in goats was investigated by a survey made in four locations of Maiduguri Metropolitan Council. A total of 300 goats were examined. The results of physical examinations of mammary glands by palpation and milk secretion were used to determine clinical mastitis. Bacteriological examination of milk samples was done in all milk collected from mastitic goats and some selected control animals. A total of 51 (17%) goats had mastitis; out of these 16 (31%) had both halves of the udder affected, whereas the remaining 35 (68%) had only one half of udder affected. Of the 50 samples from apparently normal goat udders, 20 (40%) had bacterial growth. There was no association between teat diameter, teat-end-to-floor distance and mastitis ( p > 0.05). There was an association between teat injuries and mastitis ( p < 0.05). Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli were most commonly isolated from the mastitic goat udders. Other bacteria isolated were coagulase negative Staphylococci, Bacillus spp, Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Proteus mirabilis. It is suggested that because of the prevalence of mastitis in this species, farmers should be made aware of the problem so as to institute preventive and control measures to reduce losses due to this condition in dairy goats.