Isolation and characterization of mastitis pathogens and milk composition changes in Murrah buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) during winter season

Abstract

Present investigation was carried out to study the prevalence of bacterial pathogens in clinical and subclinical mastitis in buffaloes during winter season. A total of 118 Murrah buffaloes were screened using California mastitis Test (CMT). Milk samples were collected and analyzed for fat, protein, lactose, SNF, pH, Electrical conductivity (EC) and Somatic Cell Counts (SCC). Out of 118 milk samples, 60 samples (50.84%) were negative for CMT and 58 samples (49.15%) were detected positive for mastitis incidence. Milk pH and EC was significantly higher (p<0.05) in mastitis affected samples than the normal ones, however, protein, fat, SNF and lactose were lower (p<0.05). SCC ranged between 1.28-1.48 x 105 cells/ml (in normal milk samples as compared to 3.85-6.21x 105 cells/ ml (p<0.05) in mastitis milk samples. Out of 58 samples only 51 samples exhibited bacterial growth. The culturally examined and characterized samples revealed S. aureus (35.29%) as the predominant bacteria followed by S. agalactiae with an isolation rate of 25.49%. The incidence of coliforms bacteria was not detected in any of the sample cultured and examined. It was concluded that mastitis incidence adversely affect quality of milk by increasing the SCC, pH and EC of milk. Appropriate measures needs to be taken to prevent the incidence of S. aureus bacteria which was the major causative agent.