Mastitis vaccine the need of hour

Abstract

Mastitis caused by Staphylococcus aureus is a major health and economic concern in dairy animals, including Camelus dromedarius. Its ability to cause chronic, recurrent, and subclinical infections, combined with increasing antimicrobial resistance, makes it one of the most difficult pathogens to eliminate. Traditional treatments are often ineffective due to S. aureus's biofilm formation, intracellular survival, and immune evasion mechanisms. These challenges have shifted attention toward preventive strategies, particularly vaccination. This review summarizes key findings on the prevalence, immune dynamics, and vaccine development against S. aureus-induced mastitis, with a focus on adjuvanted killed vaccines. Various adjuvants, notably Montanide (oil-based) and alum (aluminum hydroxide), have shown effectiveness in enhancing immune responses. Killed vaccines, due to their safety and stability, are frequently used and have demonstrated significant reductions in somatic cell counts, infection rates, and milk production losses in multiple studies. Alum-adjuvanted vaccines were found to sustain high antibody levels for up to 60 days post-vaccination, while oil-based adjuvants improved immunity by slowly releasing antigens and stimulating stronger responses against key toxins. Though many studies focus on bovines and rabbits, research specific to camels is lacking. Vaccination during dry or periparturient periods appears to offer the most protection due to increased immune responsiveness and higher susceptibility during early lactation. While vaccines alone may not eliminate mastitis, they are a valuable part of integrated disease control when combined with good hygiene and management. Development of camel-specific vaccines remains a critical need to effectively control mastitis in camelid populations.