Mastitis pathogens and somatic cell count in ewes milk

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the occurrence of pathogens in selected group of ewes and the relationship between somatic cell count (SCC) and the presence of pathogens. The experiment was carried out on a dairy farm, where predominantly breed was a Tsigai. Sampling was carried out in monthly intervals as part of the milk recording test day from February to July 2019. A total of 303 ewes were included in the survey, during the milk recording test day. The ewes with SCC ≥1000 x 103 cells. mL-1 were selected for further sampling at half udder level. Based on SCC the ewes were divided into five groups: <200 x103; ≥200 <400 x 103; ≥400 <600 x 103; ≥600 <1000 x 103; ≥1000 x 103 cells. mL-1. The first group of SCC contained 33.9% of milk samples, the second 14.1% of samples, the third 5.7% of samples, the fourth 6.2% and the fifth 40.1% of samples. The most common pathogens were coagulase negative staphylococci (CNS). The most frequent CNS was Staphylococcus (S.) simulans (24.4%). S. aureus was identified in 5.3% of bacteriological positive samples. Almost 70% of ewes with bacteriological positive samples were repeated identified the presence of pathogens during tested period. SCC ≥500 x 103 cells. mL-1 were detected in 92.5% bacteriological positive milk samples. The presence of pathogens increased SCC in milk (p <0.001) as compared to samples free of pathogens. In conclusion, the SCC ≥500 x 103 cells. mL-1 could be important for detection of subclinical mastitis at half udder level in dairy ewes.