Prevalence of mastitis in dairy goats on some selected farms in Morogoro and Arusba, Tanzania

Abstract

A study was done to evaluate the prevalence and significance of the matitis problem in dairy goats where have been introduced in Tanzania. A total of 103 goats with 206 quarters from Magadu, Mgeta and Tengeru were screened for mastitis using the California mastitis test (CMT) reagent. A total of 177 quarter milk samples were available for bacteriological examination; Somatic cell count (SCC) was performed on 94 samples. Statistical analyses were carried out on the logarithm of SCC for the effects of location, parity, stage of lactation, exotic blood level and CMT score. The overall prevalence of subclinical mastitis on animal and quarter basis was 80.5 % and 72.8%, respectively. Infectious organisms were isolated in 35.5% of the cultured samples. Organisms isolated included Staphylococcus spp (49.2%), Streptococcus spp (14.2%), Bacillus spp (4.8%), Escherichia coli (26.9%), Candida albicans (3.2%) and Klebsiella spp 0.6%). The overall agreement between the CMT and bacteriological examination was 34.6%. Somatic cell count increased with increasing CMT score. SCC for CMT score negative was 1. 06x 106 while for the CMT score of trace and above the SCC was above 2.0 x 106. It is concluded that subclinical mastitis in dairy goats is a serious problem in the surveyed areas.

Keywords: Prevalence, mastitis, causative organisms, dairy goats

Tanzania J. Agric. Sc. (1998) Vol. 1 No.2, 173-180