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VETERINARSKI ARHIV = 69 (2),=20 87-95, 1999

ISSN 1331-8055 Published = in=20 Croatia




Prevalence of bovine = mastitis in=20 Maiduguri
Borno State, Nigeria

James Agbo Ameh*, = Tobias=20 Edgbe-Nwiyi,
and Lamido Tanko Zaria

Faculty of = Veterinary Medicine,=20 University of Maiduguri, Maiduguri Borno State, Nigeria=20




* Contact address:
Dr. = James Ameh,=20
Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Veterinary = Microbiology,=20 University of Maiduguri, Bama Road, P.M.B. 1069, Maiduguri, Borno State, = Nigeria=20

AMEH, J. A., T. = EDGBE-NWIYI, L. T.=20 ZARIA: Prevalence of bovine mastitis in Maiduguri Borno State, Nigeria. = Vet.=20 arhiv 69, 87-95, 1999.

ABSTRACT =

Mastitis in cows was = investigated by=20 surveying a number of herds located within and around Maiduguri, = Nigeria. Five=20 thousand cows (in lactation and dry) were examined. The prevalence of = mastitis=20 was assessed by the results of physical examinations of the mammary = gland by=20 palpation, and by evaluation of milk secretion. Bacteriological = examination also=20 was carried out on all milk samples collected from affected cows, as = well as=20 some selected control cows. One hundred and four (2.1%) of the 5,000 = cows=20 examined showed evidence of clinical mastitis. There was no significant=20 difference in the number of quarters affected in relation to their = anatomical=20 positions (fore- and hindquarters). The survey revealed that the = majority of=20 cases occurred in cows between 4 and 7 years of age and that the = incidence=20 declined as the animals became older. One hundred and fifty-four = apparently=20 normal cow udders (53%) contained bacterial pathogens. On a cultural = examination=20 of 104 milk samples from affected cows, the recovery rate was 77%.=20 Staphylococcus aureus (34.6%) occurred most frequently in the = mastitic=20 milk, followed by coagulase negative staphylococci (15.4%). Other = bacteria=20 isolated from mastitic cows milk were Streptococcus sp. (9.6%);=20 Escherichia coli (6.7%); Actinomyces pyogenes (5.8%); = Bacillus=20 spp. (2.9%) and Salmonella sp. (1.9%). The prevalence of = bovine=20 mastitis in this area was sufficiently high as to cause substantial = economic=20 loss to farmers. It is therefore imperative that measures aimed at = prevention=20 and control of the disease (mastitis) be instituted in all the herds.=20

Key words: bovine = mastitis,=20 disease prevalence, etiology, Nigeria


Introduction =

Nigeria has abundant = livestock=20 resources, the majority of animals being concentrated in the northern = parts of=20 the country (AJAYI et al., 1987), although there are numbers of cattle = elsewhere=20 in Nigeria (NAWATHE, 1992). Borno State, located in the extreme north of = the=20 Sahel region, accounts for about one quarter of the total ruminant = population=20 (NGERE et al., 1984).

Milk comprises 16% of the = total value=20 of all food products produced from livestock in sub-Saharan Africa = (ANON.,=20 1986). Milk and milk products constitute a complete food, as they = contain=20 proteins, fats, lactose, minerals and vitamins, together with natural = enzymes=20 derived from milk micro-organisms. (LEWIS, 1986).

Despite the important = role of milk in=20 the national economy, local production is unable to sustain the = increasing=20 demand for milk and milk products, initially at cheaper rates (AJAYI et = al.,=20 1987). This situation has worsened over recent years due to foreign = exchange=20 constraints and the fall in the value of the local currency, the naira.=20 Currently, high prices are being demanded for milk and milk products, = with the=20 result that such items are denied to average Nigerians.

Mastitis is the most = widespread=20 infectious disease in cattle and, from an economic aspect, the most = damaging=20 (DODD, 1985). Certain udder characteristics, breeds, teat injuries, poor = hygiene, poor management, faulty milking machines, accumulation of milk = and the=20 presence of bacteria in or around the udder, are all factors which = predispose=20 cows to mastitis (SCHALM et al., 1971; ADDO et al., 1980; AMEH et al., = 1993;=20 EGWU et al., 1994).

Mastitis is an = inflammatory disease=20 affecting the mammary gland, characterised by an increased somatic cell = count=20 (SCC) in milk and/or by pathological changes in mammary tissue (ANON, = 1971).=20 Mastitis is usually caused by pathogenic bacteria and other microbes = entering=20 the gland through the teat duct (SCHALM et al., 1971).

The prevalence of this = disease in=20 Nigeria has not been studied in any depth, although there is extensive=20 literature on mastitis from countries with farming practices similar to = those=20 followed in Nigeria (KALRA and DHANDA, 1964; HAMIR et al., 1978; FALADE = et al.,=20 1989). There is therefore a pressing need to assess its clinical = prevalence and=20 causal agents (bacteria) involved in bovine mastitis in Nigeria. =

Materials and methods=20

The present study was = carried out on=20 selected herds located in a 25-km radius of Maiduguri during the period=20 1994-1997. This area has numerous smallholdings (farms) and a small = number of=20 larger herds. The standard of milking hygiene is very poor and = preventive=20 measures, such as the use of udder disinfectants, post-milking teat = dipping and=20 dry cow therapy, are infrequent in these herds.

During this period, 5,000 = cows were=20 examined clinically for the presence of mastitis. Mastitis was diagnosed = when=20 there were visible or palpable signs of udder inflammation, change in = milk=20 secretions, or through bacteriological examination of milk. During the = study,=20 104 cases of clinical mastitis were encountered and studied in detail, = the=20 following being recorded for each cow: age, clinical state (acute, = subacute,=20 chronic and gangrenous) (Table 1), and which were classified as follows: =

Acute mastitis: Severe = inflammation of=20 the mammary gland without any marked systemic reaction.

Subacute mastitis: = Inflammation of the=20 mammary gland with abnormalities in milk.

Chronic mastitis: = Inflammation of the=20 mammary gland, with little change in milk, often characterised by = induration of=20 glandular tissue. The gland may either be enlarged or reduced in size.=20

Gangrenous mastitis: = Characterised by=20 swollen mammary gland, cold to the touch and bluish-black in colour. The = affected skin area peels off, with oozing of serous fluid. Milk is = usually=20 bloody and watery.

Milk collection and = analysis=20

Milk samples were = collected from 104=20 cows from the 202 quarters clinically affected, and 154 samples from = apparently=20 normal udders. Samples were obtained using sterilised sample bottles, = with the=20 usual aseptic precautions being taken. They were placed immediately on = ice=20 (Coleman Flask) and brought to the Veterinary Microbiology Laboratory,=20 University of Maiduguri.

Prior to quarter = sampling, initial=20 streams of milk were discarded. A hundred and four milk samples were = collected=20 and examined bacteriologically from mastitic quarters, and 154 milk = samples from=20 apparently normal cows and quarters were similarly examined (control).=20

Random number sampling = was used in=20 selecting the 154 apparently normal cows on the farms visited. =

A wire loop was used for = milk=20 inoculation onto 5% sheep blood and MacConkey agars. Plates were = incubated=20 aerobically at 37 oC for 24-72 h. Plates were examined for = bacterial=20 growth on a daily basis. Organisms were examined for morphological, = staining and=20 cultural characteristics, and for biochemical reactions according to = standard=20 keys (COWAN and STEEL, 1974; KING, 1983). Staphylococci were studied in=20 particular for haemolysis and coagulase production (tube method using = oxalated=20 rabbit plasma in a 1:10 dilution in a nutrient broth incubated at 37 = =B0C and=20 inspected at 30 min intervals for 5-6 h for clot formation). A positive=20 coagulase test was judged as any degree of clotting from a loose clot = suspended=20 in plasma to a solid clot (LENNETTE et al., 1974).

Statistical analysis =

The chi-squared (c2) test was used to compare certain = values in the=20 test. P<0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results =

Prevalence of clinical = mastitis=20

One hundred and four cows = from a total=20 of 5,000 (2.1%) displayed evidence of clinical mastitis, involving 202 = quarters.=20 Data were examined relevant to the position of affected quarters. There = was no=20 significant difference in the number of quarters affected in relation to = their=20 anatomical positions. The number of quarters affected were: left fore, = 49; right=20 fore, 45; left hind, 51; right hind, 57.

The age of affected cows = ranged from 4=20 to 13 years. Results are shown in Table 1. These figures show that the = majority=20 of clinical cases occurred in cows between 4 and 7 years of age. With = regard to=20 the clinical state of the mammary gland, the greatest number were acute = cases=20 (25%), followed by sub-acute cases (21%), chronic (19%), and gangrenous = mastitis=20 (3%) (Table 1). There was no statistical difference in age distribution = with=20 respect to the form of clinical mastitis (P>0.05).

Table 1. Cows=20 from Maiduguri, Nigeria, with mastitis, grouped according to the = clinical state=20 of the mammary gland in various age groups

Clinical state of = the mammary=20 gland of cows

Age group in = years=20

Total =

% =

4-5 =

6-7 =

8-9 =

>10 =

Acute =

13 =

17 =

6 =

2 =

38 =

36.5 =

Subacute =

6 =

16 =

7 =

3 =

32 =

30.8 =

Chronic =

2 =

15 =

11 =

2 =

30 =

28.8 =

Gangrenous =

0 =

2 =

1 =

1 =

4 =

3.8 =

Total per age group =

21 =

50 =

25 =

8 =

104 =

 

Bacteriological = examination of milk=20

On cultural examination = of 104 milk=20 samples collected from clinically affected cows, recovery rate was 77% = (80/104)=20 (Table 2). In the examination of 154 samples from apparently normal cow = udders,=20 bacteria were detected in 81 (53%) samples; 73 (47%) samples had no = bacterial=20 growth. Staphylococcus aureus (34.6%) occurred more frequently in = mastitic milk, (P<0.001) than in non-mastitic milk. This was followed = by=20 coagulase negative staphylococci (15.4%). Other bacteria isolated from = mastitic=20 milk were Streptococcus spp. (9.6%); Escherichia coli = (6.7%);=20 Actinomyces pyogenes (5.8%); Bacillus spp. (2.9%) and = Salmonella=20 spp. (1.9%). Of the bacteria isolated from apparently normal milk,=20 Staphylococcus aureus predominated (16%), followed by coagulase = negative=20 Staphylococci (13%), E. coli (6%). Bacillus spp. = (2%)=20 occurred less frequently (Table 2).

Table 2.=20 Frequency of various types of bacteria isolated from mastitic and = apparently=20 normal milk of Nigerian cows

Bacterial isolates =

Cow with = mastitis
N=3D104 (%)=20

Cow without = mastitis
N=3D154=20 (%)

Staphylococcus = aureus=20

36 (15.4)* =

25 (16)* =

Coagulase negative = staphylococci=20

16 (9.0) =

20 (13) =

Streptococcus spp=20

10 (15.4) =

5 (3) =

Escherichia = coli=20

7 (6.7) =

9 (6) =

Actinomyces = pyogenes=20

6 (5.8) =

0 (0) =

Bacillus spp =

3 (2.9) =

3 (2) =

Salmonella = spp=20

2 (1.9) =

7 (5) =

Klebsiella = spp=20

0 (0) =

4 (3) =

Enterobacter = aerogenes=20

0 (0) =

4 (3) =

Negative culture/No = growth=20 samples

24 (23.1) =

73 (47)=20

*P<0.001=20


Discussion =

In this survey, the = prevalence of=20 bovine mastitis was evaluated by clinical and bacteriological methods in = order=20 to define the nature of this economically important disease. The = prevalence of=20 clinical bovine mastitis was found to be 2.1% in the Maiduguri area. = This figure=20 is within the range reported elsewhere (BRAMLEY, 1984; WILESMITH et al., = 1986)=20 who reported a prevalence of 4.35% and 3.4% respectively. Similarly, = (HAMIR et=20 al., 1978) observed 2.5%, 3.0% and 3.0% prevalence in three consecutive = studies=20 (1971, 1972 and 1973) in Kenya.

There was greater single = quarter=20 involvement, with hindquarters being more commonly affected. The number = of cases=20 found in fore- and hindquarters showed no statistical difference. = Various=20 authors in India (SHARMA and RAI, 1977) and in Kenya (HAMIR et al., = 1978)=20 observed no significant difference in the number of fore- and = hindquarter cases.=20 However, KALRA and DHANDA (1964) found in their survey that hindquarters = were=20 more frequently affected with mastitis, and that this difference was=20 statistically significant.

The higher prevalence of = clinical=20 mastitis with increasing age has been reported (KALRA, 1967; SHARMA and = RAI,=20 1977; HAMIR et al., 1978). It was observed (KING, 1981) that the = increase in=20 clinical mastitis with advancing age is entirely due to there being more = infections among older cows. In our present survey, clinical mastitis = increased=20 up to the age of seven years of age, but decreased after that point. = There was=20 no statistical difference in age distribution with regard to the form of = clinical mastitis.

Results of the survey = revealed 19%=20 chronic cases. The reason for this may be due to the fact that = veterinarians are=20 seldom requested to diagnose and treat the acute state of the disease = (CHINEME=20 and ADDO, 1984). The same authors further observed that, typically,=20 veterinarians are called upon to diagnose and recommend treatment for = the=20 condition when it has progressed to the chronic state.

A predominance of = Staphylococcus=20 aureus mastitis in cows has been reported (KALRA and DHANDA, 1964; = WATTS,=20 1988; FALADE et al., 1989; CARLOS, 1990). In this study, it was found = that S.=20 aureus and coagulase negative Staphylococci were the most frequently = isolated bacteria from mastitic cows. It has been reported by (LAFI et = al.,=20 1994) that coagulase negative staphylococci and S. aureus = occurred=20 predominantly in both clinical and sub-clinical bovine mastitis. =

Escherichia coli = is an=20 environmental pathogen, and E. coli mastitis is a major disease = in cows.=20 Previous studies in Nigeria have shown that E. coli is an = important=20 aetiological agent of clinical mastitis (AMEH et al., 1993; EGWU et al., = 1994).=20 In this study, E. coli was found in 6.7% of cases.

The isolation of mastitis = pathogens=20 from apparently normal quarter milk in the present study was in = agreement with=20 previous observations, that is to say, mastitis-causing bacterial = pathogens can=20 be isolated from clinically normal ruminant mammary glands (WALTER, = 1967; ADDO=20 et al., 1980; AMEH et al., 1993; EGWU et al., 1994).

The higher prevalence of = intra-mammary=20 staphylococcal (S. aureus) infection indicates the potential of a = food=20 hazard problem. CARLOS (1990) drew attention to the great public health=20 significance of this organism in milk.

In conclusion, this study = showed that=20 bovine mastitis definitely poses a serious problem in the Maiduguri area = of=20 Nigeria, and that the disease is caused by a variety of bacterial = organisms. We=20 therefore recommend that measures for the use of udder disinfectants,=20 post-milking teat disinfection, and prompt treatment of clinical cases = designed=20 to prevent and control the disease (mastitis) be instituted in all the = herds.=20

Acknowledgements
This = investigation=20 was supported by Senate Research Grant (R/ACA. 93/C/9/Vol. xvi), = provided by the=20 University of Maiduguri. Gratitude is also expressed for the advice and=20 encouragement we received from colleagues during this investigation. = Special=20 thanks are extended to Mr. Samson Onyikokwu for his technical = assistance, and to=20 Mrs. C. Ebenezer for her Secretarial services.


References =

ADDO, P. B., C. N. = CHINEME, F. I. A.=20 EID (1980): Incidence and importance of chronic mastitis in Nigeria = goats. Bull.=20 Anim. Health Prod. Africa 28, 225-231.

AJAYI, S. A., Y. SHUAIB, = F. D. ABU, M.=20 A. ASAGBA, A. G. LAMORDE (1987): Sheep and goat production and health = management=20 in Nigeria. Nigeria Livestock farmers 7, 18-21.

AMEH, J. A., P. B. ADDO, = J. O. ADEKEYE,=20 E. O. GYANG (1993): Prevalence of clinical mastitis and of intermammary=20 infection in Nigeria goats. Prev. Vet. Med. 17, 41-46.

ANONYMOUS (1971): Annual = Bulletin. A=20 monograph of bovine mastitis. Part I International Dairy Federation. = Brussels p.=20 3.

ANONYMOUS (1986): 1986 = production year=20 book 40 (76), FAO, Rome Italia 306.

BRAMLEY, A. J. (1984): = Streptococcus=20 uberis udder infections a major barrier to reducing mastitis = incidence. Br.=20 Vet. J. 140, 328-336.

CARLOS, A. D. M. (1990):=20 Characteristics of Staphylococcus aureus from subclinical bovine = mastitis=20 in Brazil. Br. Vet. J. 146, 443-448.

CHINEME, C. N., P. B. = ADDO (1984):=20 Chronic mastitis: Clinical microbiological and pathological findings in=20 spontaneously occurring in Nigeria goats. Goat and Sheep Res. 2, = 266-271.=20

COWAN, S. T., R. J. STEEL = (1974):=20 Manual for identification of Medical Bacteria. 2nd ed. = Cambridge=20 University Press. UK.

DODD, F. H. (1985): = Progress in=20 mastitis control. Kiel Milchwirtsch. Forschungsber. 37, 160-223. =

EGWU, G. O., L. T. ZARIA, = P. A.=20 ONYEYILI, A. G. AMBALI, S. S. ADAMU, M. BIRDLING (1994): Studies on=20 microbiological flora of caprine mastitis and antibiotic inhibitory=20 concentration in Nigeria. Small. Rum. Res. 14, 223-239.

FALADE, S., L. NWANZA, A. = WULAYA=20 (1989): Bovine mastitis in Lusaka Province. Tropical Veterinarian 2, 18. =

HAMIR, A. N., W. GEHRING, = S. I.=20 MUHAMMED (1978): The incidence of bovine mastitis in Kenya. Bull. Anim. = Health=20 Prod. Africa 26, 55-61.

KALRA, D. S., M. R. = DHANDA (1964):=20 Incidence of mastitis in cows and buffaloes in North West India. Vet. = Rec. 78,=20 219-222.

KALRA, D. S. (1967): = Observations on=20 the incidence of mastitis in relation to predisposing factors. J. Res. = 4,=20 249-256.

KING, J. S. (1981): = Streptococcus=20 uberis I: Characteristics of the organism. Br. Vet. J. 137, 36-49.=20

KING, E. C. (1983): The = identification=20 of unusual pathogenic gram negative bacteria. Centre for disease = control.=20 Atlanta Georgia.

LAFI, S. O., O. F. = AL-RAWASHDEH, K. I.=20 ERAFAJ, N. O. HALLAT (1994): Incidence of clinical mastitis and = prevalence of=20 subclinical udder infection in Jordanian dairy-cattle, Prev. Vet. 18-98. =

LENNETTE, E. H., E. H. = SPAULDING, P. J.=20 P. YRAUANI (1974): Manual of Clinical Microbiology. 2nd ed. = American=20 Society for Microbiology. Washington, DC.

LEWIS, M. J. (1986): = Advances in the=20 heat treatment of milk. Modern Tech. 11, 1-50.

NAWATHE, D. R. (1992): = Resurgence of=20 contagious bovine pleuropneumonia in Nigeria. Rev. Sci. Tech. Off. Int. = Epizool.=20 2, 799-804.

NGERE, L. O., I. F. ADU, = I. O. OKUBANJO=20 (1984): The indigenous goats of Nigeria. Animal Genetics Resources = Information,=20 FAO Roma 3, 1-9.

SCHALM, O. W., E. J. = CARROL, N. O. JAIN=20 (1971): Bovine mastitis. Lea and Febiger. Philadelphia, P.A.

SHARMA, S. D., P. RAI = (1977): II=20 subclinical mastitis in Uttar Pradesh. Ind. Vet. J. 435-439.

WALTER, G. (1967): = Standard methods for=20 the examination of dairy products. American Public Health Association = Inc. New=20 York.

WATTS, J. L. (1988): = Etiology of bovine=20 mastitis. Vet. Microbiol. 16, 41-46.

WILESMITH, J. W., P. G. = FRANCIS, C. D.=20 WILSON (1986): Incidence of mastitis in a cohort of British dairy = heards. Vet.=20 Rec. 118, 199-204.

Received: 26 October = 1998
Accepted:=20 30 March 1999


AMEH, J. A., T. = EDGBE-NWIYI, L. T.=20 ZARIA: Ucestalost govedeg mastitisa u pokrajini Maiduguri Borno u = Nigeriji. Vet.=20 arhiv 69, 87-95, 1999.

SAZETAK =

Istrazivan je mastitis u = krava u nizu=20 stada u i oko pokrajine Maiduguri u Nigeriji. Pregledano je 5.000 krava = u=20 laktaciji ili suhostaju. Ucestalost mastitisa je ocjenjivana prema = rezultatima=20 pregleda vimena palpacijom i pregledom mlijecnog sekreta. Uzorci mlijeka = prikupljeni od krava bolesnih vimena kao i od nekih odabranih kontrolnih = krava=20 pregledani su bakterioloski. Stotinu i cetiri (2,1%) od 5.000 = pregledanih krava=20 je pokazivalo klinicke znakove mastitisa. Nije bilo znacajne razlike u = broju=20 zahvacenih cetvrti vimena s obzirom na njihov anatomski polozaj (prednje = i=20 straznje cetvrti). Pregled je pokazao da se vecina slucajeva = pojavljivala u=20 krava u dobi od 4 do 7 godina, te da se ucestalost smanjivala s dobi = zivotinja.=20 Bakterijski uzrocnici pronadeni su u 154 (53%) klinicki zdravih kravljih = vimena.=20 Bakterije su ustanovljene u 77% od 104 pretrazena uzorka mlijeka od = zahvacenih=20 krava. U mlijeku iz vimena s mastitisom najcesce je utvrden = Staphylococcus=20 aureus (34,6%), a slijedili su ga stafilokoki negativni na koagulazu = (15,4%). Ostale bakterije utvrdene u mlijeku krava s mastitisom su bile: = Streptococcus sp. (9,6%), Esherichia coli (6,7%), = Actinomyces=20 pyogenes (5,8%), Bacillus spp. (2,9%) i Salmonella sp. = (1,9%).=20 Ucestalost mastitisa u ovom podrucju bila je dovoljno visoka da izazove = osjetne=20 gospodarske gubitke stocarima. Stoga je neophodno da se uvedu mjere = prevencije i=20 kontrole mastitisa u svim stadima.

Kljucne rijeci: = govedi mastitis,=20 ucestalost bolesti, etiologija, Nigerija

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