Microorganisms associated with sub-clinical Mastitis in the Kenyan Camel (Camelus dromedarius)

Over a period of 11 months, 435 milk samples were collected from 92 lactating female camels on a ranch in Northern Kenya that was traditionally managed. The samples were examined bacteriologically to determine the causative agents of camel mastitis in Kenya. 145 samples (33.3%) yielded no growth. The most prevalent pathogen was group D (non-enterococci) streptococci, which was 30.0% of the total isolates. The other dominant organisms were coagulase-negative staphylococcus (CNS)(20.1%), as follows: Staphylococcus aureus (16.0%), Streptococcus agalactiae (1.5%) and Streptococcus dysgalactiae (3.6%). Although Streptococcus agalactiae and Streptococcus dysgalactiae appear low in prevalence, they were associated with subclinical mastitis. However, Streptococcus agalactiae and S. aureus were ranked as infectious pathogens while the group D streptococci, Streptococcus dysgalactiae, CNS, coliforms and Micrococci were ranked as environmental pathogens. J. Trop. Microbiol Vol.2 2003: 11-16