Indian Journal of Comparative Microbiology, Immunology and Infectious Diseases

Mastitis, a disease of diverse etiologies, is important from economic as well as public health point of view. The present investigation was undertaken to elucidate the role of fungi in mastitis of one humped camel (Camellus dromendarius) in Ethiopia by employing standard mycological techniques. Candida albicans, a medically important yeast, was identified as cause of mastitis in one of the 25 lactating camels. The yeast was isolated in pure and heavy growth from the mastitic milk of a 6-year-old she-camel on Pal's sunflower seed medium. There was no growth of bacteria on nutrient agar, and blood agar. The morphology of the fungal isolate was attempted in “Narayan” stain. As far as could be ascertained, this seems to be the first laboratory confirmed case of mycotic mastitis due to Candida albicans in a she-camel from Ethiopia. It is emphasized that future investigation of mastitic milk should be attempted to elucidate the role of yeasts and moulds in clinical and sub-clinical mastitis in dairy animals. As Pal's sunflower seed medium is very economical, and easy to prepare, its wider application in microbiology and public health laboratories for the study of fungi is recommended.