Coliform bacteria as dominant pathogens of bovine mastitis in arid dairy systems: A case study

Authors: Aboma Zewude, Maitha Matar Obaid Alblooshi, Hind Abdulraheem Abdulrahman Alkhooi, Fatima Abdalla Albedaia Alnaqbi, Mariam Nayea Khalifa Alkaabi, Tamim Hamsho, Temesgen Mohammed,..........

Ger. J. Vet. Res 2026. vol. 6, Iss. 3 pp:1-8
Doi: https://doi.org/10.51585/gjvr.2026.3.0195

article-picture
Abstract:

Bovine mastitis remains a significant barrier to dairy production globally, especially in arid regions where climate adaptation strategies may unintentionally facilitate pathogen proliferation. In the United Arab Emirates (UAE), intensive dairy operations utilize evaporative cooling, resulting in humid microenvironments that can favor environmental mastitis pathogens. This study aimed to characterize bacterial pathogens associated with clinical and subclinical mastitis on large-scale dairy farms in the UAE under arid conditions and to evaluate their zoonotic potential. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in two major dairy farms in Abu Dhabi from May to June 2023. Researchers collected 442 milk samples from cows diagnosed with clinical and subclinical mastitis. Bacterial isolation was performed on blood and MacConkey agar, and identification was performed using the VITEK 2® system. Data analysis included descriptive statistics and chi-square tests. In total, 113 bacterial isolates representing 30 species were identified. Gram-negative bacteria were predominant (63.7%), with Escherichia coli (38.9%) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (7.1%) as the most frequent species. Among Gram-positive isolates, Enterococcus gallinarum (5.4%) and Staphylococcus aureus (4.5%) were most common. Importantly, 60% of species and 77.9% of isolates exhibited documented zoonotic potential. Pathogen diversity did not differ significantly between clinical and subclinical cases of mastitis. Coliform bacteria were the dominant mastitis pathogens in UAE dairy farms, likely due to the humid conditions produced by evaporative cooling systems. The high prevalence of zoonotic species highlights the necessity for integrated One Health strategies in mastitis control. Future research should include antimicrobial resistance profiling and molecular diagnostics to enhance understanding of pathogen dynamics and associated public health risks.

Keywords:

Arid climate, Bovine mastitis, Coliforms, Dairy cattle, Gram-negative bacteria, UAE, Zoonosis

Statistics:

Article Views: 150
PDF Download: 2