Microbiological Quality of Raw Milk and its Public Health Significance

A total of 60 milk samples collected from different milk vendors of different areas of the Faizabad district were subjected to different microbial counts and antibiotic sensitivity of bacterial isolates. Range (Mean ± SE) of different microbial counts viz., coliform, E. coli, faecal streptococci, Staphylococcus aureus, yeast and mould, and total viable counts were found as 0.00 - 4.50 (3.00 ± 1.15), 0.00 - 1.20 (0.70 ± 0.46), 1.00 - 2.80 (1.80 ± 0.64), 0.00 - 3.00 (2.10 ± 1.14), 0.00, 2.40 (1.00 ± 0.78), and 3.80 - 7.20 (5.50 ± 0.99) log₁₀ cfu/ml, respectively. On the basis of different microbial counts viz., coliform, E. coli, faecal streptococci, Staphylococcus aureus, yeast and mould, and total viable count, the milk samples of rejected category were found as 58.33%, 50%, 51.67%, 56.67%, 41.60%, and 53.33%, respectively. E. coli; Salmonella spp.; Klebsiella pneumoniae; Proteus ammoniae; Campylobacter jejuni; Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus cereus isolated in this study showed highest sensitivity against norfloxacin and ofloxacin (93.33% each); amikacin, ciprofloxacin, gentamicin and chloramphenicol (100% each); ofloxacin (100%); gentamicin (100%); ofloxacin (75%); enrofloxacin (91.43%) and amikacin (100%), respectively. Moreover, some isolates of E. coli, Salmonella spp. and Campylobacter jejuni showed multiple resistance against some antibiotics.