Prevalence, bacterial etiology, and risk factors of clinical and subclinical mastitis in dromedary camels (Camelus dromedarius) across pastoral and peri-urban production systems in south-central Somalia.
5 affiliations
- 1Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Husbandry, Somali National University (SNU), P.O. Box 15, Mogadishu, Somalia.
- 2Centre for Excellence in Camel Research & Development (CE-CaRD), Somali National University, Gahayr Campus, Afgoi Road, KM 7, Mogadishu, Somalia. [email protected].
- 3Department of Biology, Ecology and Earth Sciences (DiBEST), University of Calabria, Via P. Bucci 4C-6C, Arcavacata, Rende, Cosenza, 87036 , Italy. [email protected].
- 4Centre for Excellence in Camel Research & Development (CE-CaRD), Somali National University, Gahayr Campus, Afgoi Road, KM 7, Mogadishu, Somalia.
- 5Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, 80137, Italy.
Abstract
Mastitis is a major constraint to camel milk productivity, udder health, and milk safety in pastoral and emerging peri-urban dairy systems, yet comparative epidemiological data across these systems remain scarce. This cross-sectional study investigated mastitis in lactating dromedary camels in Banadir and Lower Shabelle, south-central Somalia, and examined the relationship between California Mastitis Test (CMT) score and somatic cell count (SCC), together with antibiotic residues in a subset of milk samples. Between August 2024 and January 2026, 384 lactating camels were enrolled, yielding 1,536 quarter milk samples. Active clinical mastitis was defined by visible udder or milk abnormalities at examination; CMT positivity was reported independently of clinical status. SCC was measured in 1,419 quarter samples, and bacteriological culture was performed on all quarter milk samples. At camel level, 48.4% had at least one quarter with active clinical signs, 91.7% had at least one CMT-positive quarter, and 68.2% had at least one culture-positive quarter. At quarter level, clinical mastitis, CMT positivity, and culture positivity were 16.5%, 47.8%, and 24.6%, respectively. Coagulase-negative staphylococci were the most frequent isolates (28.5%), followed by Staphylococcus aureus (22.0%), Escherichia coli (13.2%), Streptococcus agalactiae (11.0%), and Streptococcus uberis (9.9%). Median SCC increased from 99,548 cells/mL in CMT score 0 quarters to 2,542,414 cells/mL in CMT score 3 quarters (p < 0.001). In multivariable generalized estimating equation analysis, peri-urban production system (AOR = 1.53; 95% CI: 1.24-1.89), mild teat lesions (AOR = 1.54; 95% CI: 1.12-2.10), and severe teat lesions (AOR = 2.02; 95% CI: 1.28-3.18) were significantly associated with quarter-level CMT positivity. Of 60 samples subjected to TriSensor testing, 18 (30.0%) were positive; beta-lactams were the most frequent residue group (10/18; 55.6%). These findings show that mastitis is widespread in south-central Somali camel dairying and is shaped by bacterial infection and modifiable management-related factors. Improved udder-health surveillance, teat-health management, and prudent antimicrobial-use practices are needed to reduce disease burden and improve camel milk safety.
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BibTeX
@article{mohamed2026prevalence,
title = {{Prevalence, bacterial etiology, and risk factors of clinical and subclinical mastitis in dromedary camels (Camelus dromedarius) across pastoral and peri-urban production systems in south-central Somalia.}},
author = {Shafii Abdullahi Mohamed and Daha Hussein Mumin and Anfac Abdullahu Guled and Abdillahi Jama Abdi and Ibrahim Abdullahi Nur and Hussein Mohamed Farah and Hassan Mohamed Hassan},
journal = {BMC veterinary research},
year = {2026},
month = aug,
doi = {10.1186/s12917-026-05792-2},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42972417},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Prevalence, bacterial etiology, and risk factors of clinical and subclinical mastitis in dromedary camels (Camelus dromedarius) across pastoral and peri-urban production systems in south-central Somalia.
AU - Shafii Abdullahi Mohamed
AU - Daha Hussein Mumin
AU - Anfac Abdullahu Guled
AU - Abdillahi Jama Abdi
AU - Ibrahim Abdullahi Nur
AU - Hussein Mohamed Farah
AU - Hassan Mohamed Hassan
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/08/04
JO - BMC veterinary research
DO - 10.1186/s12917-026-05792-2
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42972417
AB - Mastitis is a major constraint to camel milk productivity, udder health, and milk safety in pastoral and emerging peri-urban dairy systems, yet comparative epidemiological data across these systems remain scarce. This cross-sectional study investigated mastitis in lactating dromedary camels in Banadir and Lower Shabelle, south-central Somalia, and examined the relationship between California Mastitis Test (CMT) score and somatic cell count (SCC), together with antibiotic residues in a subset of milk samples. Between August 2024 and January 2026, 384 lactating camels were enrolled, yielding 1,536 quarter milk samples. Active clinical mastitis was defined by visible udder or milk abnormalities at examination; CMT positivity was reported independently of clinical status. SCC was measured in 1,419 quarter samples, and bacteriological culture was performed on all quarter milk samples. At camel level, 48.4% had at least one quarter with active clinical signs, 91.7% had at least one CMT-positive quarter, and 68.2% had at least one culture-positive quarter. At quarter level, clinical mastitis, CMT positivity, and culture positivity were 16.5%, 47.8%, and 24.6%, respectively. Coagulase-negative staphylococci were the most frequent isolates (28.5%), followed by Staphylococcus aureus (22.0%), Escherichia coli (13.2%), Streptococcus agalactiae (11.0%), and Streptococcus uberis (9.9%). Median SCC increased from 99,548 cells/mL in CMT score 0 quarters to 2,542,414 cells/mL in CMT score 3 quarters (p < 0.001). In multivariable generalized estimating equation analysis, peri-urban production system (AOR = 1.53; 95% CI: 1.24-1.89), mild teat lesions (AOR = 1.54; 95% CI: 1.12-2.10), and severe teat lesions (AOR = 2.02; 95% CI: 1.28-3.18) were significantly associated with quarter-level CMT positivity. Of 60 samples subjected to TriSensor testing, 18 (30.0%) were positive; beta-lactams were the most frequent residue group (10/18; 55.6%). These findings show that mastitis is widespread in south-central Somali camel dairying and is shaped by bacterial infection and modifiable management-related factors. Improved udder-health surveillance, teat-health management, and prudent antimicrobial-use practices are needed to reduce disease burden and improve camel milk safety.
SN - 1746-6148
ER -