Prevalence of subclinical mastitis and associated microorganisms

Abstract

The study was conducted in a dairy farm of the Genetic Animal Husbandry enterprise Los Naranjos, in the Caimito municipality –Artemisa province, Cuba–, in order to evaluate the prevalence of subclinical mastitis and the associated microorganisms. Milk samples were taken from each animal (10 mL), in sterile flasks, for the determination of the fat percentage and the contents of protein, lactose and total solids (TS). Likewise, a diagnosis was made of the disease through the California test, with count of somatic cells, and the microbiological agents that cause this pathology were determined. A high prevalence was found in the herd (60 %) during April and May, as well as a significantly higher index ( p < 0,001) in May with regards to March. The main etiological causative agents of the high prevalence of subclinical mastitis in the herd in April and May were Staphylococcus aureus and Enterobacter spp. From the animals, 50 % showed counts of somatic cells higher than 200 000 cells/mL. No significant differences were found between the count of microorganisms and total coliforms during the evaluated period. It is concluded that the pathology had high prevalence in the herd and that the contagious etiological agents prevailed, with a 50 % frequency. The milk had good nutritional quality; however, it showed high counts of somatic cells, which bring about bad hygienic-sanitary quality.