Articles

Mastitis caused by Streptococcus agalactiae, Staphylococcus aureus, Corynebacterium bovis, Mycoplasma sp, and Streptococcus dysgalactiae leads to severe economic losses, both direct and indirect. It is not only an economic concern but also a significant animal welfare issue because it causes pain, inflammation, and reduced productivity. Milk produced by a mammary gland affected by clinical mastitis is useless in dairy production and should be discarded. It is responsible for approximately 60–70% of antimicrobial drug use in dairy animals. These bacteria multiply and produce toxins that cause injury to the milk-secreting tissue, in addition to physical trauma and chemical irritants. External infections weaken the internal udder defence. Current mastitis treatment relies on antibiotics. Effective vaccines can also reduce the incidence of mastitis, thereby effectively reducing antibiotic use. This article highlights the epidemiology of mastitis, risk factors, and economic impact of mastitis in dairy animals with emphasis on prevalence and management practices.