DETERMINATION OF CAUSATIVE AGENTS OF SUBCLINICAL MASTITIS IN SHEEP IN BULGARIA

Abstract

Subclinical mastitis is a disease causing significant losses in dairy sheep farming, due to reduction in the quantity and quality of the milk. The main reason for its occurrence are microorganisms of various genera. The aim of the present study was to identify the actual causative agents of subclinical mastitis in lactating sheep in Bulgaria. For this purpose, 156 milk samples were obtained and processed. In 76 (48.76%) of which we found the presence of microorganisms and an increase in the number of somatic cells. The results showed that a broad spectrum of bacterial agents from different genera, (Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, Bacillus, Enterococcus, Aerococcus, Dermaococcus, Macrococcus, Micrococcus) and fungi from the genus Candida, participate within the etiology of the disease. The most frequently isolated bacteria with pathogenic potential were representatives of coagulase–negative staphylococci (CNS). We characterized 10 different species from them. The results showed the most prevalent were Staphylococcus xylosus and Staphylococcus epidermidis.