| dc.description.abstract | The camel (Camelus dromedarius) is the dominant livestock in North Eastern province where it provides sustenance to many people especially during the frequent dry periods when other animals die or are unthrifty. Garissa and Wajir in the arid Northern Kenya hosts about 54% of the national camel herd estimated to number over1 million. Camel milk from North Eastern Province in Kenya is widely marketed in those areas but is also currently being sold in distant markets in Nairobi and other places. An expanded camel milk market provides an opportunity for increased income that can lead to improved pastoral livelihoods. Most of the milk is collected from individual pastoralists, bulked and then taken by transporters to urban areas. The objective of this study was to determine the bacterial pathogens associated with mastitis in camels in Garissa and Wajir districts of North Eastern province of Kenya. A total of 384 composite raw milk samples destined for the market were collected from the two districts of Garrissa and Wajir and several laboratory tests performed that included California mastitis test (CMT), bacterial isolation and identification using various tests. Out of the total milk samples screened for the presence of mastitis by use of CMT, 235 samples (61.20%) were positive for sub-clinical mastitis and their equivalent somatic cell counts (SCC/ML) ranged from 1.5 × 105 to 5 × 106 leukocytes per millitre of milk. All the milk samples yielded mixed types of bacterial genus on culture. The bacterial microorganisms isolated from these milk samples included Staphylococcus species (346 samples = 90.10%), Micrococcus species (346 samples = 90.10%), Streptococcus species (326 samples = 84.89%), Bacillus species (176 samples = 45.83%), Escherichia coli (230 samples = 59.90%), Klebsiella species (352 samples = 91.67%) and Enterobacter species (368 samples = 95.83%). Coagulase positive Staphylococcus -CPS (aureus and intermedius) were isolated from 91 samples (23.70%) while Coagulase negative Staphylococcus-CNS (epidermidis) was isolated from 255 samples (66.40%). CAMP positive Streptococcus agalactiae (Lancefield group B) was isolated from 102 samples (26.56%) while CAMP negative Streptococcus dysgalactiae (Lancefield group C), Streptococcus faecalis (Lancefield group D) and Streptococcus uberis (Non lancefield classified) were isolated from 224 samples (58.33%). The high prevalence recorded for the three major mastitis causing pathogens (Gram positive cocci – Streptococcus, Staphylococcus and Micrococcus species) which originates from the udder, was attributed to bulking or pooling of different camel milk batches from different animals and producers. However the high prevalence of Enterococci (Escherichia coli, Klebsiella/Enterobacter species) and Bacillus species was attributed to contamination of milk containers from the environment due to the poor hygiene of handling milk along the collection and marketing chain. Results of the present study showed that mastitis is prevalent in dromedary camels of Garrissa and Wajir districts of Northeastern province of Kenya, and Gram-positive cocci were the dominant mastitis pathogens isolated. Bacterial mastitis pathogens also represent a potential threat to humans if the milk is consumed raw, a common practice in most camel keeping communities. Mastitis in camels can be prevented or reduced by improving animal health and udder hygiene. More efforts are needed to improve the general camel udder health by introducing mastitis control program in this region. It is possible to recommend a control program for camel mastitis in this region taking into consideration the use of effective antibiotics therapy during lactation and at drying off; this would be an essential part of such a mastitis control program | en_US |
