Bovine mastitis in Malta : an epidemiological survey

Abstract

Mastitis is considered to be the most important disease of dairy cattle world-wide. The scope of this survey was to determine (1) the prevalence and distribution of bovine mastitis in Malta and (2) the major factors affecting this prevalence/distribution. Multiple Bulk Milk (BM) samples from 39 randomly selected Maltese bovine herds were tested for Somatic Cell Counts (SCCs), Total Bacterial Counts (TBCs), Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus agalactiae, Strep. dysgalactiae and esculin-fennenting Streptococci from July 1996 to March 1997. The herdsmen responsible for these milk supplies were interviewed about mastitis control practices and other variable factors assumed to influence mastitis prevalence / incidence 20 farms were also visited to observe conditions in local farms. 93 asceptically taken milk samples from separate quarters, of cows in 2 low BM SCC herds, were used to identify causative agents of clinical or sub clinical mastitis in these herds.