Abstract
A total of 200 milk samples of sheep were collected from surroundings of Tandojam, Sindh to determine bacterial pathogens responsible for subclinical mastitis in sheep. The bacterial species identified were Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus, Escherichia coli, Micrococcus luteus, Corynebacterium pyogenes, Citrobacter species, Proteus Vulgaris and Streptococcus uberis with prevalence of 37.14%, 18.57%, 12.85%, 11.42%, 8.57%, 5.71%, 2.85% and 2.85%, respectively. Whereas, from 200 milk samples examined through culture media, 70 (35%) were found positive with bacterial growth, while 130 (65%) had shown no growth and were recorded to be free from any bacterial infection. A total of 70 samples were positive from both udder halves. In right halves, 37 were found with subclinical mastitis, the prevalence was observed as 52.85 % while in the left halves 33 were positive with prevalence of 47.14%. The most common bacterial pathogen detected in both udder-halves of the sheep was Staphylococcus aureus. From 70 positive subclinical mastitic milk samples, 55 (78.57%) were recorded as pure infection, whereas 15 (21.14%) samples were found with mixed bacterial species. Among the positive samples 12 (6%) were found with strong gel formation with somatic cell/milliliter of 8,100,000
