Prevalence of clinical mastitis and of intramammary infections in Nigerian goats

Abstract

Mastitis in goats was investigated by a survey made in seven government established goat farms in Kaduna, Kano and Katsina States of Nigeria. A total of 900 goats was examined. The prevalence of mastitis was judged by the results of physical examinations of the mammary gland by palpation and evaluation of the milk secretion. Bacteriological examination also was done on all milk samples collected from affected goats and some selected control animals. A total of 92 goats (10%) had mastitis. Twenty-two (23.91%) of the affected goats had bilateral infection, while 70 (76.1%) had only one udder half affected. In cases of unilateral involvement, there was no significant difference as to which half (left or right) was clinically affected. From 200 apparently normal goats' udders 70 (35%) of the mammary glands examined harboured bacteria of importance. Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli were the most commonly isolated bacteria from mastitic goats. Other bacteria were coagulase negative Staphylococcus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, βeta-haemolytic and non-haemolytic streptococci. Bacillus species, Actinomyces pyogenes, Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis, Pasteurella haemolytica, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Actinobacillus equuli. This is the first report of A. equuli associated with caprine mastitis in Nigeria.