Mastitis affects dairy production, animal welfare and farmer livelihoods and can lead to increased antimicrobial use. Conducted as part of an ICARS-supported project, this systematic review synthesized evidence on the prevalence, risk factors, bacterial causes and antimicrobial resistance patterns associated with bovine mastitis in Kenya.
Subclinical mastitis was particularly common, affecting an estimated 51% of cows and 44% of udder quarters, while clinical mastitis affected approximately 6% of cows. The most frequently identified bacteria were Staphylococcus aureus, coagulase-negative staphylococci and Streptococcus species. High resistance to co-trimoxazole and oxytetracycline was reported among several major pathogens, while sensitivity to gentamicin was generally higher.
Breed, stage of lactation, poor hygiene, production system and parity were identified as important risk factors. Although substantial variation between studies limits setting-specific interpretation of the pooled estimates, the findings demonstrate a high mastitis burden and underline the need to strengthen mastitis prevention, farm hygiene and antimicrobial stewardship in Kenya.
