Abstract

Prevalence, Associated Risk Factors and Isolation of the Major Causative Agent of Subclincal Mastitis in Dairy Cattle

Authors: Hira Ahsan, Tahira Ghulam Mohammad, Mahwish Murad Khan, Muhammad Umair and Firdaus Kauser

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.71081/cvj/2026.079

Abstract
Mastitis is caused by a variety of microorganisms, including bacteria, protozoa, yeasts/fungi, and algae, which can penetrate and multiply in the udder, producing pathogenic substances that cause inflammation. Subclinical mastitis caused by Staphylococcus aureus has important public health implications. The objective of this study to observe prevalence of subclinical mastitis and associated risk factors in dairy cattle, isolation andidentification of S. aureus, risk factors associated with subclinical mastitis as well to determine antimicrobial resistance patterns. A total of 400 milk samples were collected from different farms in the Faisalabad district. The California mastitis test was used to determine whether subclinical mastitis was present. Standard microbiological methods were then applied to 42 positive milk samples in order to isolate and identify S. aureus. The disc diffusion method was used for antibiogram analysis in order to evaluate antibiotic resistance. The prevalence of subclinical mastitis (SCM) at the cow and quarter levels was 22% and 10.5%, respectively. Vancomycin, erythromycin, gentamicin, ciprofloxacin, and chloramphenicol showed the highest susceptibility to antimicrobial susceptibility testing, whilst tetracycline showed the highest rate of resistance. The prevalence of subclinical mastitis in cows was substantially associated with factors such as age, parity, and milk production. These results highlight the necessity of more stringent aseptic management in dairy farms to stop animal-to-animal disease transmission and ensure the production of clean, safe food for human consumption.

Keywords: California mastitis test, Disc diffusion, Erythromycin, Gentamicin, Mastitis, Risk factors, S. aureus, Vancomycin