African Journal of
Food Science

  • Abbreviation: Afr. J. Food Sci.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 1996-0794
  • DOI: 10.5897/AJFS
  • Start Year: 2007
  • Published Articles: 986

Full Length Research Paper

Staphylococcus aureus and other Staphylococcus species in milk and milk products from Tigray region, Northern Ethiopia

Enquebaher Tarekgne*
  • Enquebaher Tarekgne*
  • Department of Chemistry, Biotechnology and Food Science, Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU), Ã…s, Norway.,College of Veterinary Medicine, Mekelle University, Mekelle, Tigray, Ethiopia.
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Siv Skeie
  • Siv Skeie
  • Department of Chemistry, Biotechnology and Food Science, Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU), Ã…s, Norway.
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Knut Rudi
  • Knut Rudi
  • Department of Chemistry, Biotechnology and Food Science, Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU), Ã…s, Norway.
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Taran Skjerdal
  • Taran Skjerdal
  • National Veterinary Institute (NVI), Oslo, Norway.
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Judith A. Narvhus
  • Judith A. Narvhus
  • Department of Chemistry, Biotechnology and Food Science, Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU), Ã…s, Norway.
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  •  Received: 29 September 2015
  •  Accepted: 02 November 2015
  •  Published: 30 December 2015

Abstract

Staphylococcus aureus is an important pathogen that can cause Staphylococcal Food Poisoning (SFP). Milk and dairy products are frequently contaminated by this bacterium. In this study, 310 samples (168 bovine raw milk and 142 dairy products) were collected in the Tigray region of Northern Ethiopia, with the objective of detection and enumeration of S. aureus and other Staphylococcus species. Baird-Parker agar for isolation and 16S rRNA gene sequencing for species identification were employed. S. aureus was found in 38.7% of samples with mean count of 4.35 +/- 0.97 log 10 CFU ml -1. The prevalence of S. aureus was significantly greater in raw milk samples (47%) than in dairy products (28.8%). Of all S. aureus positive samples, 34.2% contained >5 log10 CFU ml-1. Samples from cafeterias and restaurants showed the greatest prevalence of S. aureus (P<0.05) compared to other sampling points. Samples from small-scale dairies were twice more likely to be contaminated by S. aureus than traditionally managed dairies (P<0.05, OR=2.0). Coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS) were found in 51.6% of the samples, with mean count of 6.0±1.21 log10 CFU ml-1. Ten species of CNS were identified and S. epidermidis (36.13%) was the most frequent. The frequency of isolation found in this study indicates that S. aureus and other Staphylococcus spp. may impose public health hazard in dairy products. Therefore, further studies on the enterotoxigenic potential of the isolates, and molecular epidemiology to trace the sources of the contamination are recommended.

 

Key words: Coagulase negative staphylococcus (CNS), dairy products, Ethiopia, Staphylococcus aureus, raw milk.

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This article is published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0

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