Studies on some milk borne pathogens

Abstract EN

The objective of this study was to assess the degree of contamination of raw and pasteurized milk with bacteria of the genus Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria monocytogenes and Escherichia coli O157: H7.

A total of 200 milk samples (150 raw and 50 pasteurized) were purchased from different sources; farms, collecting centers, dairy shops and different super markets in El-Minia governorate, Egypt.

The samples were examined bacteriologically and presumptive isolates were further confirmed by PCR using specific primers of Staph.

aureus clfA gene, L.

monocytogenes 16S rRNA gene and serotyping of E.

coli isolates.

The overall incidence of Staph.

aureus was 64% and 4% in raw and pasteurized milk, respectively, while L.

monocytogenes was present in 8% of raw milk and couldn't be detected in pasteurized milk.

Moreover, E.

coli O157: H7 could not be detected in any samples.

In conclusion, raw milk represents a public health hazard for human consumption in relation to milk borne pathogens