Mycotic mastitis in sheep

Abstract

The study was aimed to investigate the mycotic mastitis in sheep during the period from October 2011 to May 2012 in different areas of Al-Diwaniya province. 253 ewes were examined, and from which 500 milk samples were collected (495 samples from apparently healthy ewes that examined by California Mastitis Test (CMT ) in addition to five samples from sheep infected with clinical mastitis) for isolation and identification of yeasts and molds adopted the method of culturing on Seaboard Dextrose and Corn meal agar in addition to Chrome agar and biochemical tests as well as specific yeast kits (Integral system yeast plus) for diagnosing the mycotic agents. Results indicated that the incidence of mastitis in ewes was 17.8%, while the percentage of mycotic mastitis was 9.4%, (0.4% and 9% of clinical and subclinical forms respectively). Yeasts were isolated and identified grossly by colony shape, size, and color, and by biochemical testing which represents 9.61% of the fungal causes, and the yeasts isolates were Candida famata and Rhodotorula rubra from the clinical cases of mastitis only. Molds 90.38% also were isolated, as a high isolate of Aspergillus niger 28.84%, Aspergillus flavus 23%, Aspergillus fumigates 17.30%, Penicillium spp 13.33%, Aspergillus terrus 5.76%, and the least percentage of isolation 3.84% was of the Fusarium spp.