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Risk factors associated with prevalence and major bacterial causes of mastitis in dromedary camels (Camelus dromedarius) under different production systems

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Abstract

A cross-sectional study was conducted in desert environment of Jhang (Pakistan) from November 2008 to October 2009 on she-camels kept under pastoralist conditions to determine the prevalence of mastitis, impact of risk factors, and isolate the dominant mastitis-causing bacteria on total of 150 lactating she-camels by using clinical examination and surf field mastitis test. From the 150 she-camels examined, 69 (46%) were positive for mastitis at animal level, 12 (8%) clinical, and 57 (38%) subclinical. Age, parity number, stage of lactation, breed, production system, hygiene of milking process, and presence of lesion on udder/teat were found significantly associated (p < 0.05) with the prevalence of mastitis in she-camels. There was the lowest prevalence (33.33%; 15 of 45) of mastitis in she-camels of 5–7 years of age, while the highest (80%; 12 of 15) in the animals aged between 14 to 16 years. Stage of lactation significantly affected (p < 0.05) and was found to be associated with the prevalence of mastitis being the highest (54.55%; 18 of 33) during the initial stage of lactation (0 to 1 month) followed by last 2 months (10–12 months) as 54.17% and mid-stages (1–3 and 3–10 months) of lactation as 28.57% (6 of 21) and 37.50% (9 of 24), respectively. According to breed of camels, it was noted that the prevalence of mastitis affected significantly (p < 0.05) being the highest in crossbred (Desi × Mareecha) as 51.39% (37 of 72) followed in order by Mareecha and Desi as 43.14% and 37.04%, respectively. Staphylococcus (42.19%) and Streptococcus (15.63%) genera were the dominant isolates identified. Good hygiene in milking process, milking clinically infected she-camels at last, culling chronic mastitis carriers, treating clinically infected she-camels, and dry period therapy could reduce the prevalence of contagious mastitis in the study area.

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Acknowledgments

Special thanks are due to the pastoralists of Thal area and Staff of Veterinary Hospital (District Jhang) for their cooperation and help in the collection of milk samples. Also, the authors are thankful to Prof. Dr. Ghulam Muhammad (Mastitis Laboratory, Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery; University of Agriculture, Faisalabad-38040, Pakistan) for his immense contribution in this study.

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Author notes

  1. Sibtain Ahmad

    Present address: Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction Science, Ministry of Education, College of Animal Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, People’s Republic of China

  2. Muhammad Kasib Khan

    Present address: State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, People’s Republic of China

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Livestock Management, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, 38040, Pakistan

    Sibtain Ahmad, Muhammad Yaqoob, Muhammad Qamar Bilal & Muhammad Tariq

  2. Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, 38040, Pakistan

    Ghulam Muhammad

  3. Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction Science, Ministry of Education, College of Animal Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, People’s Republic of China

    Li-Guo Yang

  4. Department of Parasitology, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, 38040, Pakistan

    Muhammad Kasib Khan

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  1. Sibtain Ahmad
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Correspondence to Sibtain Ahmad.

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Ahmad, S., Yaqoob, M., Bilal, M.Q. et al. Risk factors associated with prevalence and major bacterial causes of mastitis in dromedary camels (Camelus dromedarius) under different production systems. Trop Anim Health Prod 44, 107–112 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-011-9895-0

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