Detection of staphylococcus aureus and stapylococcal enterotoxins in raw milk samples

The purpose of this study is the investigation of the presence of Staphylococcus aureus and enterotoxin in raw milk. For this reason we examinated 96 raw milk samples (48 of them were collected from village located around Yatağan district of Mugla province and others from Milas district between September and November 2014) for S. aureus count and staphylococcal enterotoxins (SEA, SEB, SEC, SED, SEE). S. aureus analyses in raw milk samples were conducted within the framework of TSE 6582 ISO 6888 standard. As a result of analysis, 24 of the 48 milk samples (50%) from Yatağan with a mean of 1.87±1.95 log cfu/ml S. aureus and 26 samples (54.16%) from Milas with a mean of 1.93±1.84 log cfu/ml S. aureus were determined. S. aureus was isolated at different levels from 50 (52.08%) of total raw milk samples. According to Turkish Food Codex (Number: 2009/14) 47 samples of 96 total raw milk examined were determined to be inapproprated in terms of S. aureus count. In this study ELISA test used for the presence of staphylococcal enterotoxins. This method was performed by Ridascreen Set A, B, C, D, E r-Biopharm (r-Biopharm AG, Darmstadt, Germany. Art. No: R4101) commercial test kit. The result of test, neither of 96 raw milk samples was contaminated with staphylococcal enterotoxin (SEA, SEB, SEC, SED, SEE). In conclusion, although no enterotoxins were idendified in any of the milk samples, considering public health S. aureus presence might be a great problem if preservation procedures are not applied properly. Therefore in the production of milk, udder health hygiene, milking equipment hygiene and improving workers knowledge about milking and hygiene procedures are very important. Key words: Raw milk, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcal enterotoxin, ELISA