ASSESSMENT OF HYGIENIC PRACTICES OF DAIRY FARMS, PUBLIC AWARENESS, PREVALENCE AND ANTIBIOGRAM OF Escherichia coli AND Staphylococcus aureus ISOLATES FROM RAW COW’S MILK AT WOLIATA SODDO DISTRICT, SOUTHERN ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Microorganisms in milk originate from the interior of teats, the farm environment and surfaces of the milking equipment. Food borne diseases are common in developing countries, including Ethiopia. Antimicrobial resistance is a major and increasing global healthcare problem. This Cross sectional study was conducted, to assess hygienic practice in farms and public awareness, estimate the prevalence of E.coli and S. aureus in raw milk, to obtain S. aureus and coliform lode in milk, to determine the antibiotic susceptibility patterns from December 2018 to February 2019. A total of 53 farm manager and 100 milk consumers were interviewed and 379 milk samples 60 bulk milk and 53 swabs from different sources were collected for laboratory analysis to assess prevalence and bacterial load by using standard microbiological techniques. The antibiotic susceptibility profiles of the E. coli and S. aureus were also investigated. S.aureus and coliform contaminations in milk were evaluated based on risk factors. STATA version 14 was use for data analysis. 56.6% of farms practiced poor milking hygiene, 28.3% satisfactory and only 15% practiced good milking hygiene. Workers educational status has significant value (p=<0.05) in relation to milking hygiene. Prevalence of E. coli 27% (CI= 22.26-31.40), Prevalence of S.aureus 75.73% (CI= 71.09-79.96) were obtained in raw milk. Whereas 69.2% S.aureus in hand swab and 100% E.coli in floor swab positive. Age, parity, separated use of milkers & cleaner & use of the same towel were significant difference (p=<0.05) in effect on the prevalence of E.coli. S. aureus lod in plastic container milk (5.7070 log10 cfu/ml) and metal container (6.0533 log10 cfu/ml), and coliform count in foremilk discarded source (5.27 log10 cfu/ml) and foremilk did not discarded source (5.7105 log10 cfu/ml) reveled. E. coli, were highly susceptible to Gentamicin (91.6%), but resistance to Penicillin-G (88.6%) while S.aureus were highly susceptible to Gentamicin (94.7%) but resistance to Polymyxins (96.2). 74% respondent have idea on hygienic practice in farm and 53% have idea on milk born disease due to raw milk consumption but, still 66% consumed raw milk and only 26% have idea on disease transmission from human to animal. Therefore at study area farm hygiene was unsanitary milk produced was low quality, most of antibiotics were resistance and consumers have low idea on milk consumption way and handling, training, supplely facility & materials, rational use of both vet. & medical drugs, E.coli serotypes surveillance of serotype char, good personal hygiene, CMT test in farm and udder fresh milk bacterial count should be performed.