Occurrence, infectious etiology and risk factors associated with bovine mastitis in microrregion Itabuna-Ilhéus, Bahia

Abstract

The objective in this study was to evaluate the occurrence, infectious etiology and risk factors associated with mastitis in 187 dairy cows from ten farms in the Microrregion Itabuna-Ilheus from the state of Bahia, Brazil. Both cows were selected as the properties of a non-random, being selected 20% of lactatin cows from each farm. The test of choice for preliminary identification of subclinical mastitis was the California Mastitis Test, the diagnosis of clinical mastitis was carried out by the observation of signs of inflammation in the udder and the presence of gross changes in milk. Of lactating cows, 74 (39.57%) were positive for mastitis and 90% of the farms analyzed had at least one positive animal. About the risk factors, it was verified that the use of the foot calf during nursing (p <0.0001), presence of mechanical milking and the presence of the veterinarian as protective factor. The etiologic agents isolated in a total of one hundred and six samples were Staphylococcus aureus (42.85%), Corynebaterium sp. (42.85%), coagulase negative Staphylococcus (36.19%), Pseudomonas sp. (16.19%), Escherichia coli (15.23%), Bacillus sp. (15.23%), Streptococcus sp (13.33%), Klebsiella sp. (1.9%), Proteus sp. (0.95%). We conclude that the significant occurrence of mastitis in herds dues to improper handling conditions such as misure of milking machine, which allows the proliferation and spread of micro-organisms, especially those known as “contagious”. Therefore, the adoption of good management and prophylactic measures, assisted by a veterinary, surgeon will allow the reduction of this disease in herds.