Abstract
One hundred and forty-five traditionally kept lactating camels (Camelus dromederius) were examined for mastitis by combination of clinical, mastitis card test and subsequent bacteriological isolation. Clinical and sub-clinical mastitis were prevalent in 8.3% (95%CI = 4.6, 14.4) and 20.7% (95%CI = 14.6, 28.4) of the studied animals, respectively. This gives an overall mastitis prevalence of 29.0% (95%CI = 21.9, 37.2) at animal and 17.9% (95%CI = 14.9, 21.3) at quarter levels. High proportion (33.8%) of lactating camels had blind teats and 5.5% had lesions on udder or teat. Taking clinical mastitis and blocked teats into account, the study revealed that only 57.9% of the camels have four teats for milk production. Out of the 505 quarter milk samples examined, 80 (15.8 %) quarters were positive for indicator paper. Upon subsequent culturing, 68.8% (55 out of 80) of the quarter milk samples yielded bacteria. Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, E. coli and Bacillus species were the major isolates. Mastitis prevalence was significantly (p < 0.05) affected by tick infestations, udder lesions, and increased age and parity of the animals. In conclusion, mastitis is a major problem in traditionally managed camels and deserves further attention owning to its potential impact on milk production affecting food security.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Abdel Gadir, A.E., Hildebrandt, G., Kleer, J.N., Molla, B., Kyule, M.N., Baumann, M.P. 2006. Comparison of California Mastitis Test, Somatic Cell Count and Bacteriological Examinations for Detection of Camel (Camelus dromedarius) Mastitis in Ethiopia. Berl Munch Tierarztl Woshenschr 119, 45–49.
Abdurahman O., Agab, H., Abbas, B., and Aston, G. 1998. Relation between udder infection and somatic cells in camel (Camelus dromedarius) milk. Acta.Vet.Scand. 36, 424–431.
Abdurahman, O.A.Sh. 1995. Milk N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase and serum Albumin as indicator of sub-clinical mastitis in the camel. Journal of Veterinary Medicine A 42, 643–647.
Abdurahman, O.A.Sh. 2006. Udder health and milk quality among camels in the Errer valley of eastern Ethiopia. Livestock Research for Rural Development 18, 1–9.
Abdurahman, O.A.Sh. and Younan, M. 2004. The Udder Health. In: Farah and Fischer (editors). Milk and Meat from the camel, handbook on product and processing. Vdf Hochschulverlag AG an der ETH Zurich, Zurich /Singen, pp 73–76.
Agab, H. and Abbas, B. 1999. Epidemiological studies on camel diseases in eastern Sudan. World Animal Review 92, 42–51.
Almaw, G. and Molla, B 2000. Prevalence and etiology of mastitis in camels (Camelus dromedarius) in eastern Ethiopia. Journal of Camel Practice and Research 7, 97–100.
Bekele, T. and Molla, B. 2001. Mastitis in lactating camels (Camelus dromedarius) in Afar Region, North-eastern Ethiopia. Berl Munch Tierarztl Wochenschr 114, 169–72.
Farah, Z. 1993. Composition and Characteristics of Camel Milk. Journal of Dairy Research 60, 603–626.
Guliye, A.Y., Van Creveld, C. and Yagil, R. 2002. Detection of sub-clinical mastitis in dromedary camels (Camelus dromedarius) using somatic cell counts and the N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase test. Tropical Animal Health and Production 34, 2 95–104.
Mohammed, A.H. 1993. Conceptual classification of camels In: The multipurpose camel: Interdisciplinary study on pastoral production in Somalia. EPOS MO prints, Upsala, Sweden. pp 155–158.
National Mastitis Council (NMC). 1990. Microbiological procedures for the diagnosis of Bovine udder infection, 3rd Ed, Arlington VA, National Mastitis Council. Inc.
Obied, A.I.M., Bagadi, H.O., Mukhtar, M.M. 1996. Mastitis in camel (Camelus dromederius) and the somatic cell count of camel milk. Research Veterinary Science 61, 55–58.
Quinn, P.J., Carter, M.E., Markey, B., Carter, G.R. 2002. Clinical Veterinary Microbiology. London, Wolf publishing.
Ramadan, R.O., El Hassan, A.M., Abdin-Bey, R., Algasnawi, Y.A., Abdalla, E.S. and Fayed, A.A. 1987. Chronic obstructive mastitis in the camel. A clinicopathological study. Cornell Veterinarian 77:2 (1987) 132–150.
Radostits, E., Gay, C.C., Blood, D.G., Hinchcliff, K.W. and Arundel, J.H. 2000. Veterinary Medicine: a textbook of diseases of cattle, sheep, goats, pigs and horses. 8th edition, London, Balliere Tindall,
Tibary, A.and Anouassi, A. 2000. Lactation and Udder Diseases. In: Recent Advances in Camelid Reproduction, Skidmore J.A. and Adams G.P. (Eds.), International Veterinary Information Service (www.ivis.org).
Woubit, S., Bayleyegn, M., Bonnet, P. and Jean-Baptiste, S. 2001. Camel (Camelus dromedarius) mastitis in Borena lowland pastoral area, Southwestern Ethiopia, Revue d’Elevage et de Medecine Veterinaire des Pays Tropicaux 54, 207–212.
Younan, M., Ali, Z., Bornestein, S. and Muller, W. 2001. Application of the California mastitis test in intramammary Streptococcus agalctiae and Staphylococcus aureus infections of camels (Camelus dromedarius) in Kenya. Preventive Veterinary Medicine 51, 307–316.
Acknowledgements
The authors express their gratefulness to the Regional Veterinary Laboratory of Jijiga and camel owners of the area for the supports and unreserved cooperation offered.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Abera, M., Abdi, O., Abunna, F. et al. Udder health problems and major bacterial causes of camel mastitis in Jijiga, Eastern Ethiopia: implication for impacting food security. Trop Anim Health Prod 42, 341–347 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-009-9424-6
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-009-9424-6