Molecular detection and antifungal resistance profile of Candida spp. isolated from bovine mastitis cases
Abstract
Mycotic mastitis is an increasingly recognized problem in dairy herds, with Candida species emerging as significant etiological agents. These opportunistic yeasts pose particular risks to immunocompromised animals and are frequently isolated from both clinical and subclinical mastitis cases. Given the growing concern about fungal mastitis in dairy production, this study was conducted to determine the prevalence of Candida species in bovine mastitis cases in Gujarat, India, and assess their antifungal susceptibility profiles to guide effective treatment strategies. A total of 608 bovine mastitic milk samples were collected over four months and systematically analyzed for fungal presence. Fungal isolation was performed using Sabouraud Dextrose Agar, with Candida species identification based on colony morphology, Gram staining and germ tube testing. Molecular confirmation was conducted using PCR with genus-specific primers targeting 250–350 bp amplicons. Antifungal susceptibility patterns were evaluated using the standardized disc diffusion method. Results revealed that fungal pathogens were present in 10.5% of all samples, with Candida species specifically accounting for 1.64% of the overall bovine mastitis cases. The isolated Candida species demonstrated characteristic cream-colored colonies with pasty consistency and exhibited Gram-positive, oval-shaped cells with typical budding morphology. Notably, all isolates tested negative for germ tube production. Molecular analysis confirmed the phenotypic identification, with all suspected Candida isolates producing the expected amplicon size range. Antifungal susceptibility testing revealed fluconazole as the most effective therapeutic agent, while ketoconazole demonstrated limited efficacy against the isolated strains. These findings underscore the importance of including fungal pathogens in the differential diagnosis of mastitis and also emphasizes the necessity of conducting antifungal susceptibility testing to develop targeted treatment protocols, ultimately improving therapeutic outcomes and reducing economic losses in dairy operations.
Article Details
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Yeptho, A., Ghodasara, S., Javia, B., Barad, D., Hina, V., Niranchaana, S., & Nirali, K. (2026). Molecular detection and antifungal resistance profile of Candida spp. isolated from bovine mastitis cases. Journal of the Hellenic Veterinary Medical Society, 77(1), 10225–10230. https://doi.org/10.12681/jhvms.41774
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- Vol. 77 No. 1 (2026)
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- Research Articles
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