Proportion of Mastitis, Bacteriological Characterization and Antibiogram of Staphylococcus aureus in Sub-clinically Infected Lactating Dairy Cows in Tocha and Essera Districts, Dawuro Zone, Southwest Ethiopia

Abstract

Mastitis is one of the most prevalent and significantly devastating potential dairy cow disease. Staphylococcus aureus is a common cause of subclinical mastitis which has got drug resistance and poses a major threat to public and animals. Inappropriate use of drugs, consumption of raw milk and lack of updated and published scientific work are out of major problems. A cross-sectional study was conducted to assess the occurrence of mastitis; isolate, identify and assess antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of Staphylococcus aureus from sub- clinically infected lactating cows in Tocha and Essera districts of Dawuro zone from January - November 2024. Questionnaire survey, clinical examination, California mastitis test, bacteriological identification and antimicrobial susceptibility testing was conducted. About 384 cows were selected using systematic random sampling method. The overall proportion of mastitis was 33.60% (129/384); of which 5.73% (22/384) and 27.86%(107/384) was clinical and subclinical mastitis, respectively