Bovine Mastitis: Bacterial Isolates from Subclinical and Clinical Mastitis in the Lake Zone of Tanzania

Abstract

Six hundred and six (606) milk samples were cultured for bacteria. Bacteria were isolated from 265 (43.7%) samples. The isolates included Staphylococcus aures (45.7%), Streptococcus spp (18.1), Staphylococcus epidemidis (10.9%), Escherichia coli (7.9%), Klebsiella serogenes (4.5%), Salmonella Arizona (3.8%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (2.6), Enterobacter aerogenes (2.3%) and other bacteria (4.2%). Sensitivity test were performed on Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus against Neomycin, Nitrofurantoin, Chloramphenicol, Gentamycin, Dimethyl-chlortetracycline, Streptomycin, Penicillin, Terramycin, Cloxacillin and Ampicillin. Mixed resistance was encountered with Penicillin, Terramycin, Cloxacillin and Ampicillin. The need to recognize mastitis as a real disease problem in the light of increased emphasis on small holder dairy farming is stressed and the necessity to enlighten the farmers on the importance of hygienic measures in preventing and controlling mastitis is emphasized.