Prevalence of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus in Raw Milk from Cows with Subclinical Mastitis in Toro Local Government Area, Bauchi State
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in raw milk poses a public health risk. This study determined the prevalence of MRSA in raw milk from cows with subclinical mastitis in Toro LGA, Bauchi State, Nigeria. Milk samples (n= 192) from 48 lactating cows were screened using the California Mastitis Test (CMT). S. aureus was isolated on Mannitol Salt Agar and confirmed by Gram staining, catalase, and coagulase tests. MRSA was identified phenotypically using Oxacillin disk diffusion (1 μg). Subclinical mastitis prevalence was 70.8% (34/48 cows) and 22.4% (43/192 quarters). S. aureus was isolated from 104/192 (54.2%) samples, of which 66/104 (63.5%) were MRSA, representing 34.4% (66/192) of all samples. Highest MRSA prevalence (16.1% of total samples) occurred in cows aged ≥10 years. Resistance was highest to Ciprofloxacin (81.7% of S. aureus isolates), Levofloxacin (75.0%), and Erythromycin (72.1%). The high prevalence of MRSA and multidrug resistance suggests indiscriminate antibiotic use and poor milking hygiene. Routine surveillance, regulated antibiotic use, and improved hygiene are urgently needed to protect public health.
Language: English
Subfield: Animal Science and Zoology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7213344874