Aerobic bacteria pathogens associated with caprine mastitis in Nsukka Area of Enugu State

This study ascertained the aerobic bacteria associated with cases of clinical and subclinical caprine mastitis. A total of 58 lactating West African dwarf does were used for this investigation. These lactating does had signs of clinical and sub-clinical mastitis. These samples were collected from Nsukka town, Nsukka abattoir, Orba Market, Obukpa Market and Obolllo - Afor market, all in Enugu State, Nigeria. Clinical mastitis was detected by gross signs of udder infection by physical examination of abnormal milk, whereas subclinical mastitis was recognized using California Mastitis test. This study showed that 39 (67.24%) of 58 goats were positive for mastitis on California Mastitis Test. Clinical and subclinical cases of caprine mastitis, Staphylococcus aureus was the predominant pathogen 32 (55.17%). 14 (24.13%) of the isolates were positive for Staphylococcus epidermidis , 6 (10.34%) for Streptoococcus agalactiae , 4 (6.89%) E.coli and 2 (3.44%) for Klebsiella pneumoniae . This work identified the bacterial species linked with caprine mastitis in Nsukka area of Enugu State. Keywords: Clinical mastitis, suclinical mastitis, aerobic bacteria, lactating, caprine