Subclinical Mastitis In Goats Research Articles

Prevalence, aetiology and risk factors of subclinical mastitis in goats in Bangladesh

• The udder half level prevalence of Subclinical Mastitis (SCM) in goat was high (50.9 %). • The most prevalent pathogens associated with SCM were Non-aureus Staphylococcus species (NAS) and S. aureus. • SCM was significantly higher in poor and fair body conditioned goats compared to cachectic goats. • Late lactation period, Jamnapari breed and goats with bottle shaped teats were found as significant risk factors for SCM. Goat production in Bangladesh has increased substantially during the last decades due to increasing demand for meat and milk. This growth in goat production is, however, reduced by different diseases, among which mastitis has significant adverse effect on milk production and milk quality and is associated with financial losses. Risk factors and aetiology of goat mastitis in Bangladesh are largely unknown, hampering the effective control of the disease. The current study was therefore undertaken to determine the prevalence of subclinical mastitis (SCM) in goats, describe the pathogens causing SCM and identify risk factors. One hundred and six goats from 88 household goat farms were included in the study. The estimated udder half level prevalence of SCM, based on the California Mastitis Test, was 50.9 % (95 % CI: 44.2–57.7 %). The most prevalent group of pathogens associated with SCM was non-aureus Staphylococcus species (NAS) and S. aureus. Our study depicted the odds of SCM to be significantly higher in poor and fair body conditioned compared to cachectic goats, goats in late lactation, Jamnapari breed and in goats with bottle shaped teats rather than conical or cylindrical teat shapes. This study shows that SCM in goats in Bangladesh is highly prevalent and suggests the importance of breeding for mastitis resistance, by selecting stronger breeds and goats with good udder or teat conformation.

Prevalence, Risk factors and current Antibiogram Assay Associated with Subclinical Escherichia Coli Mastitis in Goats

The objective of this study was to isolate Escherichia coli spp. and to identify the risk factors associated with subclinical mastitis in goats. The overall animal wise prevalence of Escherichia coli SCM was 9.13 per cent and udder halves wise 6.02 per cent. Out of 1312 udder halves, 7.1 per cent udder halves were unilaterally affected and the prevalence was higher in right udder halves (6.38 per cent).The breed wise prevalence of Escherichia coli SCM was highest (25.0 per cent) in Black Bengal goats and the age wise prevalence of Escherichia coli SCM was found highest (23.80 per cent) in lactating goats in 3-4 years of age. The lactation / parity wise prevalence of Escherichia coli SCM was observed highest (18.08 per cent) in 3rd lactation. The lactation stage wise prevalence of SCM was found highest (17.43 per cent) in early lactation stage. The antibiogram assay revealed that Escherichia coli spp. was most susceptible to enrofloxacin with 23.25 mm zone of inhibition.

β-lactam resistance in bacteria associated with subclinical mastitis in goats in Thika Subcounty, Kenya.

Aim:This study determined the resistance pattern to β-lactam antibiotics of bacteria isolated from goats with subclinical mastitis in Thika subcounty, Kenya. We also administered a questionnaire to assess the risk factors associated with the occurrence of resistance to commonly used antibiotics.Materials and Methods:We collected milk samples from 110 lactating dairy goats in Thika subcounty to screen for subclinical mastitis using the California mastitis test. Bacterial isolation and identification were performed according to colony morphology, the hemolytic pattern on sheep blood agar, lactose fermentation on MacConkey plates, Gram staining, and standard biochemical tests. The antibiotic susceptibility of the isolates was determined by the agar disk diffusion method using penicillin G, cephalexin, cefoxitin, and cefotaxime antibiotic disks. The double-disk synergy test using amoxicillin-clavulanic acid was employed as a confirmatory test for extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) production. Fisher’s exact test was used to determine the risk factors associated with the occurrence of antibiotic resistance (p≤0.05 was considered significant).Results:Of the 110 dairy goats sampled, 72.7% (80) were positive for subclinical mastitis. Isolation and identification of the bacteria from the positive samples yielded 149 bacteria isolates, including Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter spp., Yersinia spp., coagulase-negative staphylococci, and Escherichia coli. A high percentage (76.5%, 114/149) of the bacterial isolates was resistant to at least one of the tested antibiotics. At least 56/106 isolates (52.8%) showing cross-resistance to the β-lactam antibiotics were resistant to all four of the tested antibiotics, while only one isolate was resistant to three antibiotics (penicillin G, cephalexin, and cefoxitin). The double-disk synergy test confirmed that none of the isolates possessed ESBLs. Pre- and post-milking practices (p=0.0336) were found to be significantly associated with the occurrence of antibiotic resistance.Conclusion:A large proportion of the goats in our study cohort were infected with β-lactam-resistant bacteria associated with subclinical mastitis. Because the identified bacteria are of zoonotic importance, further studies should be undertaken to determine the transmission dynamics between humans and livestock and to identify novel intervention strategies.

Etiology and Antimicroba Susceptibility of Udder Pathogens from Cases of Subclinical Mastitis in Dairy Ettawa Crosbread Goat (PE) in Kulonprogo Yogyakarta

Subclinical mastitis in Ettawa crosbreeds (PE) is an inflammatory disease that no clinical symptoms, but there is an increase the number of somatic cells and causes decrease milk production which economically detrimental. The aim of these study was to isolation of bacteria that causing subclinical mastitis in PE goats and their susceptibility with antimicrobial. A total of 37 PE goats from 5 farms in Kulonprogo were tested by California Mastitis Test (CMT). PE goats were said subclinical mastitis if the CMT test positive (++) or (++). Isolation and identification bacteria from PE goat subclinical mastitis by bacteriological analytical manual. Coagulase test with tube coagulation and antimicroba susceptibility with agar diffusion. Subclinical mastitis in PE goats at Kulonprogo farm is 10/37 (27%) which caused by S. intermedius positive coagulase 4/4 (100%), S. aureus negative coagulase 7/10 (70%), S. aureus positive coagulase 3/10 (30%), and E. coli 1/10 (10%). S. intermedius positive coagulase was resistant to ampicillin, tetracycline, and sulfamethoxazole 2/4 (50%) respectively. S. aureus negative coagulase was resistant to ampicillin 2/7 (28.6%), penicillin 1/7 (14.3%), and sulfamethoxazole 1/7 (14.3%). S. aureus positive coagulase was resistant to ampicillin 1/3 (33.3%), penicillin 3/3 (100%), sulfametoxazole 2/3 (66.7%), and tetracycline group 1/3 (33.3%). Subclinical mastitis PE goats in Kulonprogo was caused by S. intermedius positive coagulase and S. aureus negative coagulase which resistant to penicillin and sulfamethoxazole.

Prevalence of clinical and subclinical caprine mastitis of northern region in Bangladesh

Mastitis is a multifactorial and infectious disease of the udder of dairy animals. Infected animals suffer from pain and fever and causing damage in udder and changes in milk. The aim of this work was to determine the prevalence of clinical and sub-clinical caprine mastitis associated with bacterial pathogens during the period from January to June, 2017. A total of 120 lactating goats were randomly selected from different villages of Dinajpur district and 240 milk samples from each udder half were aseptically collected. The udders were examined and screened for the evidence of clinical and subclinical mastitis by clinical examination of udders and examining milk samples. Subclinical mastitis was detected by California Mastitis Test (CMT). Milk samples of all clinical and subclinical mastitis goats were cultured in/on bacteriological media for isolation and characterization of responsible bacterial pathogens. The overall prevalence of clinical and subclinical mastitis in goats was found to be 11.67% and 38.75%, respectively. Bacteriological examination of mastitic milk samples of caprine revealed Staphylococcus spp. (32.5%) as the major pathogen followed by Escherichia coli (22.5%), Pseudomonas spp. (12.5%), Klebsiella spp. (12.5%) and Bacillus spp. (5%). Results of this study indicated that about 50% of caprine udder were infected with mastitis (38.75%), which may render lowering milk production and mortality of goats and kids. It needs to screen milk sample of lactating goats by CMT, identify mastitic goats with infected bacteria, evaluate antibiotic sensitivity and design control strategy accordingly.Progressive Agriculture 29 (2): 127-138, 2018

Prevalence and bacterial etiology of subclinical mastitis in goats reared in organized farms.

Aim:Assessment of the status of subclinical mastitis (SCM) in Jamunapari and Barbari goats in Indian organized farms, the involvement of bacterial pathogens and their sensitivity to antibiotics.Materials and Methods:A total of 181 composite milk samples were aseptically collected from the apparently healthy Barbari (n=95) and Jamunapari (n=86) goats. The California mastitis test (CMT) and somatic cell count (SCC) were used to diagnose SCM. The milk samples with CMT scores of 0 and +1 were considered as negative, while the samples with the score of +2 or +3 were taken as positive, and further, the positive samples were used for the bacteriological examination. An antibiotic sensitivity test was performed by disk diffusion method using seven commercially available antibiotic discs.Results:All the samples having CMT score of +2 or +3 demonstrated SCC more than 1 million. Overall, the prevalence of SCM in the goats was assessed as 19.89% (36/181). The prevalence of SCM in Barbari and Jamunapari goats was found as 24.21% (23/95) and 15.12% (13/86), respectively. Out of 11 isolates of Staphylococci, 9 isolates were identified as coagulase-negative Staphylococci (CNS), whereas 2 isolates were found as Staphylococcus aureus. The identified bacterial isolates (n=30) did not show antibiotic resistance.Conclusion:The current investigation showed the considerable prevalence of SCM among Jamunapari and Barbari goats which may have a negative impact on quantity and quality of the milk. CNS was found as the most prevalent cause of SCM in the goats. Negligible antibiotic resistance was found among the identified udder pathogens.

Antimicrobial sensitivity of pathogens causing subclinical mastitis in goats in Bulgaria

The aim of this study was to analyze the antibacterial sensitivity of microbial isolates causing subclinical mastitis in goats. The classical Bauer disk-diffusion assay was used to determine the sensitivity of the coagulase-negative staphylococcal (CNS) isolates and isolates belonging to other genera. In all the tested isolates, the highest rates of resistance were observed to be to Oxacillin (81.25%) and Novobiocin (75%), followed by Penicillin (68.75%), Tetracycline (37.5%) and Amoxycillin (31.25%). There was low prevalence of resistance to Cefotaxime (12.5%), Thiamphenicol (6.25%), Cefuroxim (6.25%), Cefuroxim (6.25%), Amikacin (6.25%), Sulfamethoxazole + Ttrimethoprim (6.25%) and Gentamicin (6.25%). Staph. intermedius showed resistance to the highest number of antimicrobial agents, four ones (28.57%), whereas Staph. haemolyticus was the least resistant isolate, which was sensitive to nearly all of the tested antimicrobials and showed intermediate sensitivity to only three ones (21.43%). Among the microorganisms other than CNS, B.brevis and Å.coli showed resistance to the highest number of antimicrobial agents (42.86%).

The Prevalance, Etiology and Antimicrobial Susceptibility of the Microorganisms in Subclinical Mastitis in Goats

Calisma, Hatay cevresinde kecilerde subklinik mastitis prevalansi, neden olan mikroorganizmalar ve mikroorganizmlarin antibiyotik duyarlikliklarini belirlemek amaciyla duzenlendi. Besyuzbes keciye ait 1010 meme lobu CMT ile muayene edildi. Somatik hucre sayisi (SHS) direkt mikroskopik yontemle belirlendi. Mikroorganizmalarin izolasyon ve identifikasyonu rutin mikrobiyolojik yontemlerle gerceklestirildi. Stafilokoklarin alt turlerinin belirlenmesi amaciyla API-STAPH system kullanildi. Antibiyotik duyarlilik testlerinde disk difuzyon yontemi kullanildi. Subklinik mastitisin prevalansi %8.71 olarak belirlendi. En fazla izole edilen mikroorganizma %71.5 oraniyla Stafilokoklardi. Calismada Stafilokoklar disinda Streptokoklar (%8), Basillus spp. (%5.7), E. coli (%4.5), Corynebacterium spp. (%3.4), Pseudomonas spp. (%2.3) ve Acinetobacteri spp. (%2.3) de izole edildi. Ek olarak orneklerin % 2.3’unde miks enfeksiyon saptandi. Antibiyotik duyarlilik testlerine gore penisilin, eritromisin, oksitetrasiklin, gentamisin, amoksisilin’e karsi yuksek oranda direc gozlendi. Enrofloksasin, amoksisilin klavulonik asit, kanamisin ve sefaleksin’e karsi orta duzeyde direnc saptanirken, sefalotine karsi direnc yoktu. Sonuc olarak Hatay cevresinde keci surulerinde subklinik mastitisin prevalansinin dikkate deger seviyelerde oldugu, koagulaz negatif stafilokoklarin en fazla izole edilen mikroorganizmalar oldugu belirlendi. Kecilerde subklinik mastitis tanisinda kuvvetli CMT reasksiyonlarinin dikkate alinmasi gerektigi, CMT ve somatik hucre sayilarinin mikrobiyolojik yontemlerle desteklenmeleri gerektigi kanisina varildi

Microbiological analysis and sensitivity profile of Staphylococcus spp. in subclinical mastitis of dairy goats

Subclinical mastitis in goats causes economic losses and risks to public health. Given the need for research that shows the most isolated staphylococci species and sensibility tests comparing the resistance between coagulase-negative (CNS) and positive Staphylococcus (CPS) goats with subclinical mastitis, the aim of this study was to identify the microorganisms isolated from milk samples of goats with subclinical mastitis, as well as define the staphylococci species and determine the sensitivity profile of Staphylococcus spp. to antimicrobials. To collect samples, tests were performed for mug of black background and California mastitis test (CMT), collecting milk from CMT positive animals. A total of 226 samples from seven herds of dairy goats was collected and forwarded to the laboratory, where they were seeded for the isolation of the microorganism and implementing the antibiotic sensibility test. Of these, 122 samples had bacterial growth and the most isolated staphylococci species were: S. epidermidis (24.55%), S. lugdunensis (15.40%) and S. intermedius (13.64%). Samples showed increased resistance to antimicrobials: penicillin (81.8%), oxacillin (60.0%) and ampicillin (55.5%). Greater sensitivity to: enrofloxacin (99.1%), erythromycin (98.2%), gentamicin (98.2%) and vancomycin (98.2%) were observed. The S. epidermidis showed higher antimicrobial resistance to amoxicillin and penicillin than S. lugdunensis and S. intermedius. Similar resistance in vitro between CNS and CPS was observed to most antimicrobials. It is important to control the overuse of antibiotics to prevent the emergence of resistant strains.

Epidemiological studies on subclinical mastitis in dairy goats in northern regions of Bangladesh

A cross sectional study was carried out from June, 2008 to December, 2010 to estimate the prevalence of subclinical mastitis and to determine the responsible bacterial pathogens in lactating dairy goats in northern districts of Bangladesh. A total of 292 goats and 584 udder halves milk samples were screened using California Mastitis Test (CMT). Prevalence of subclinical mastitis at goat level was 56.2% (164/292), and in udder half level it was 33.9% (198/584). The subclinical mastitis prevalence at goat level was high (71.6%) in Jamnapari goats as compared to Black Bengal goats (50.2%), whereas at the udder half level, subclinical mastitis prevalence was 45.1% and 29.6% in Jamnapari and Black Bengal goats, respectively. The pathogens isolated from subclinical mastitic milk samples were coagulase negative Staphylococci, Coliforms, Streptococcus spp., Staphylococcus aureus, Micrococcus spp., Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Bacillus cereus. Among these, the most frequent isolates were coagulase negative Staphylococci (28.8%), Coliforms (22.7%) and Streptococcus spp (15.2%). Out of four potential host related risk factors considered, litter size and body condition of goats were found to influence the prevalence rate of subclinical mastitis in goat significantly (p< 0.05). On the other hand, the subclinical mastitis was very significantly (p=0.0001) associated with the housing system of goats, i.e., goats reared in raised floor had a low subclinical mastitis infection rate (35.8%) as compared to reared in earth floor (62.2%). Antibiogram studies were also performed for the bacterial isolates and Gentamicin was found to be the most effective drug.Bangladesh J. of Livestock Res. 19(1-2): 112-122, Jan-Dec 2012

Comparison of Culture of Goat Milk with Indirect Measurement of Somatic Cell Count Using a Commercial Kit, and Antimicrobial Susceptibility of Bacterial Isolates

Detection of sub-clinical mastitis in goats is important in the prevention of clinical mastitis, and for the development of treatment protocols. The PortaSCC goat milk test ® (Porta-test) is a novel commercial test for indirect somatic cell count (SCC), and is marketed as a rapid diagnostic method to monitor udder health. The purpose of this study was to compare the results of the Porta-test with culture results, identify bacterial intramammary pathogens in the goats of Grenada, and determine their antibiotic sensitivity. Udder half milk samples from 150 goats in various stages of lactation were evaluated from separate herds on the island state of Grenada. Of 74 udder halves, randomly chosen and studied using the Porta-test, 23 (31%) had normal SCC (category 1), and 51 (69%) had higher SCC, falling in 3 categories of Porta-test positive samples, with 35.2% positives on culture. The differences in culture positivity in the 4 Porta-test SCC categories were statistically not significant. Although indicative of inflammation, the use of this rapid diagnostic method cannot be solely relied upon for the determination of subclinical mastitis of bacterial origin in the caprine. Of the 24 bacterial isolates, 42% were Staphylococcus simulans , and the remaining isolates included one isolate, each of several coagulase-negative species of staphylococci. Of the 24 isolates tested for susceptibility against 12 antimicrobial drugs, only 2 showed resistance, one for penicillin and erythromycin, and one for tetracycline.

Subclinical mastitis in goats is associated with upregulation of nitric oxide-derived oxidative stress that causes reduction of milk antioxidative properties and impairment of its quality

The aim of this study was to verify the existence of a nitric oxide (NO) cycle in goat milk and to study how changes in it affect milk composition during subclinical mastitis. Fifteen lactating dairy goats in which one udder-half was free from bacterial infection and the contra-lateral one was naturally infected with various species of coagulase-negative staphylococci were used. In comparison to uninfected glands, subclinical mastitis was associated with a decrease in milk yield, lactose concentration, and curd yield and an increase in nitrite and nitrate concentrations and with measurements reflecting increased formation of NO-derived free-radical nitrogen dioxide. The occurrence of NO cycling in goat milk was largely confirmed. The increase in the NO-derived stress during subclinical infection was not associated with significant increase in oxidatively modified substances, 3-nitrotyrosine, and carbonyls on proteins, but with increased levels of peroxides on fat. However, the relatively modest nitrosative stress in subclinically infected glands was associated with significant reduction in total antioxidant capacity and vitamin C levels in milk. We concluded that subclinical mastitis in goats caused by coagulase-negative staphylococci imposes negative changes in milk yield, milk quality for cheese production, and negatively affects the nutritional value of milk as food. Thus, subclinical mastitis in goats should be considered as a serious economic burden both by farmers and by the dairy industry.

Antimicrobial activity of Algerian honey on subclinical mastitis pathogens isolated from goat's milk

Aim: The aim of the present study was to determine the susceptibility of subclinical mastitis pathogens isolated from goat's milk and to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of Algerian honey on mastitis causing bacteria. Materials and Methods: The antibacterial activity against the isolated bacteria was evaluated by determining the Minimal Inhibitory Concentration (MIC), using the agar incorporation method. Results: The results showed that both Micrococcus spp. and Klebsiella spp. were susceptible to Streptomycin and tetracycline, while Pseudomonas aeruginosa, E coli, Enterobacter spp., Bacillus spp., and Coagulase Negative Staphyloccoci (CNS) were preferentially susceptible to Streptomycin. However, Streptococcus D was the most resistant to the tested antibiotics whereas Staphylococcus aureus was the most susceptible to all the studied antibiotics. As regards to the antimicrobial activity of honey, the measured values were comprised between 11 and 14%. Conclusion: The results reveal that antimicrobial drugs susceptibility tests in goat subclinical mastitis might be necessary before the treatment. Algerian honey exhibited in vitro antimicrobial activity against different isolated bacteria in goat mastitis.

Development of an experimentally induced Streptococcus uberis subclinical mastitis in goats

Streptococcus uberis is a major environmental mastitis-causing pathogen. The infections are predominantly subclinical and are frequently undetected and untreated for extended periods of time. More information about the pathogenesis of S. uberis mastitis would be useful. To our knowledge, no experimental studies into the mastitis pathogenesis caused by S. uberis have been described in lactating goats. The aim of this study was to reproduce an experimentally induced S. uberis subclinical mastitis in lactating goats aimed to evaluate the inflammatory response, dynamics of infection and the pathological findings within the first hours of intramammary inoculation with S. uberis. Six Saanen goats in mid-lactation were inoculated with 1.7 × 10 8 cfu of S. uberis. Bacterial growth peaked in milk from challenged right mammary halves (RMH) at 4 h PI. Shedding of viable bacteria showed a marked decrease at 20 h PI. Mean somatic cell counts in milk from the RMH peaked at 20 h PI. Inoculation with S. uberis was followed by a decrease in the mean total number of leukocytes. Signs and systemic symptoms were not evoked by intramammary inoculation. S. uberis could be isolated in tissue from all RMH. Histological examination of specimens of the RMH and lymph nodes of the goats showed an increased inflammatory response throughout the experiment. The histological findings correlated with the immunohistochemical detection of S. uberis in RMH. In conclusion, the experimental inoculation of S. uberis in lactating goats is capable of eliciting an inflammatory response and causing pathological changes, resulting in a subclinical mastitis. This investigation shows that goat might to represent a valuable model for the study of the mastitis pathogenesis caused by S. uberis.

Suscetibilidade a antimicrobianos e produção de betalactamase em amostras de Staphylococcus isolados de mastite caprina no semiárido paraibano

RESUMO Este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar a susceptibilidade antimicrobiana in vitro e a produção de betalactamase de 42 amostras de Staphylococcus isolados de mastite subclínica caprina. Foram utilizados 14 Staphylococcus chromogenes, 10 S. waneri, 6 S. saprophyticus, 5 S. aureus, 3 S. epidermidis, 2 S. intermedius e 2 Staphylococcus coagulase negativo. Os maiores índices de resistência foram para penicilina 66,67% e ampicilina 63,89% e sensibilidade frente à cefoxitina 97,62%. A múltipla resistência a 3 ou mais antimicrobianos foi observada em 42,86% dos isolados. Das 42 amostras de Staphylococcus avaliadas, 73,81% foram positivas para o teste de produção de betalactamase. A concentração inibitória mínima apresentou 100% das amostras susceptíveis à norfloxacina e os valores de resistência para os demais antimicrobianos não ultrapassaram os 30%. A alta resistência apresentada para penicilina e ampicilina demonstra a limitação no uso desses antimicrobianos no tratamento da mastite caprina na região. Embora neste estudo as cefalosporinas tenham apresentado boa sensibilidade, o uso desses fármacos em medicina veterinária se torna preocupante devido à incidência de estirpes produtoras de betalactamase.

EVALUATION OF THE CORRELATION BETWEEN THE INFECTION STATUS OF UDDER AND THE MICROBIOLOGICAL MILK QUALITY IN SOME EXTENSIVE GOAT HERDS OF SARDINIA - PRELIMINARY RESULTS

Sub clinical mastitis may cause more losses than clinical mastitis. Farmers can take advantage of employing several tools, California Mastitis Test (CMT) and Somatic Cell Count (SCC) among the others, to determine the presence of a sub clinical mastitis in their herds. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the microbiological quality of milk produced in some extensive goat herds in Sardinia through a clinical check to determine the infection status of the udder, CMT, SCC and microbiological milk tests. CMT has been confirmed to be a useful, practical and economical tool to detect sub clinical mastitis in goats. Farmers should be encouraged to use this as a first step in order to avoid prospective losses in their herds.

Treatment of subclinical mastitis in Damascus goats during lactation

Abstract This study was carried out to determine the efficacy of three treatment protocols for subclinical mastitis during lactation in Damascus goats. For this purpose intramammarian ampicillin dicloxacillin, intramuscular amoxycillin clavulonic acid and the combination of intramammarian ampicillin dicloxacillin and intramuscular amoxycillin clavulonic acid were used in goats with subclinical mastitis during lactation. The microbiological treatment rates in the intramammarian ampicillin dicloxacillin, intramuscular amoxycillin clavulonic acid and the combination of intramammarian ampicillin dicloxacillin and intramuscular amoxycillin clavulonic acid groups in the 7th and 21st days after the treatment were 62.5% and 92.5%, 62.5% and 70%, 87.5% and 87.5%, respectively. The intramammarian and intramuscular combination group was found to have a statistically higher treatment rate than other two groups on the 7th day. On the 21st day intramammarian and combination groups were found to have statistically better treatment rates than that of intramuscular group. It was concluded that the goat subclinical mastitis could be successfully treated during lactation. While the intramammarian ampicillin dicloxacillin treatment had the best treatment rates, the combination of intramuscular amoxycillin clavulonic acid was also successful. Intramuscular amoxycillin clavulonic acid as the sole treatment was not as effective as intramammarian therapy.

Prevalence and aetiology of subclinical mastitis in goats

The study was conducted in 2006 on 20 French alpine goat farms in Croatia. Milk samples were taken from each udder half, for the mastitis test and the bacteriological test, 2120 samples in total. Subclinical mastitis was diagnosed in 211 out of 1060 goats, or in 20% of the studied population. Mastitis of one udder half was diagnosed in 84% of the affected population, while mastitis of both udder halves was diagnosed in 16% of the affected goats. A positive mastitis test reaction was identified in 605 samples (28%), and the pathogenic bacterium was isolated from 244 of these samples (36%). From 22 samples (1.5%) which were negative to mastitis test, pathogenic bacteria, namely S. aureus (21 samples) and Streptococcus D (1 sample), were isolated. Staphylococcus aureus was isolated from 72% mastitis test positive samples, coagulase-negative staphylococci in 16%, other bacteria were isolated from a smaller number of samples: Streptococcus D (6%), Bacillus spp. (2%), and E. coli (2%). The results of the study lead to the conclusion that the subclinical mastitis in goats has a prevalence of 20% on average which increases with higher lactation number. Staphylococcus aureus is the primary causative agent of the inflammations.

Diagnosis of Subclinical Mastitis in Goats

Diagnosis of Subclinical Mastitis in Goats

Potential of lactoperoxidase to diagnose subclinical mastitis in goats

This study was conducted to determine the potential of lactoperoxidase (LP) for the diagnosis of subclinical mastitis in goats. The activities of LP and somatic cell counts (SCC) were determined in the milk of clinically healthy Saanen and South African Indigenous goats and the correlation between LP activity and SCC was measured. An increase in LP activity was observed with increasing number of somatic cells in the milk of the two goat breeds. A significantly ( p < 0.01) positive correlation was observed between LP activity and SCC in the Indigenous ( r = 0.91) and Saanen ( r = 0.95) goat milk samples. The mean SCCs in Indigenous and Saanen goat milk samples were 2.5 × 10 4 and 2.0 × 10 6 cells/ml, respectively. The LP activity of Saanen goat milk ranged from 0.49 to 1.07 units/ml with a mean value of 0.80 units/ml. In the Indigenous goat milk, the LP activity ranged from 0.03 to 0.38 units/ml with a mean value of 0.26 units/ml. The positive correlation observed between SCC and LP activity suggests that LP may be used to detect subclinical mastitis in dairy goats.