ASSESSMENT OF HYGIENIC PRACTICES AND ISOLATION OF Staphylococcus aureus FROM RAW COW MILK WITH ANTIMICROBIAL SUSCEPTIBILITY TEST IN METTA DISTRICT, EAST HARARGHE

Abstract

The safety of milk production regarding to foodborne diseases is a common problem around the world, especially in developing countries where production is generally unhygienic. A cross-sectional study was conducted from December, 2018 to August, 2019 to assess milk hygiene practice among small and medium holder dairy farms, to estimate prevalence of S. aureus in raw milk and swabs to assess associated risk factor of S. aureus in raw milk and the antimicrobial susceptibility test of S.aureus isolates in selected small scale dairy farms in Meta District of Eastern Hararghe Zone Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia. The possible risk factors for S.aureus contaminations in milk were evaluated face to face interviewed 30 respondents through a structured questionnaire randomly base on their intimate to small dairy farm. A total of 177 samples (117 raw milk from lactating cow by simple random sampling technique collected from purposively selected small scale dairy farms and depending on number of worker, frequencies of farm visit 30 from hand and 30 from material used, total 60 swab samples) were examined using standard microbiological techniques. The antimicrobial susceptibility test of the isolates (n=39) was also investigated using disc diffusion method. In the study area with regard to milk hygiene, 80 % of respondents did not wash udder before milking, did not use detergent to clean milk containers and none of them kept milk in refrigeration before consumption or sold and 63.3% of milk users had habit of raw milk consumption. None of them have concept of staphylococci food born disease. Overall, 22.03% (n= 39) of the samples were positive for S. aureus. The prevalence of S. aureus was 18.8% from udder milk and 30 %, and 26.7% from milkers‟ hand, and milking Equipment‟s swab respectively. The prevalence of S. aureus in milk were statistically significant variation with respect to age (p = 0.000), parity (P = 0.000) .Udder and leg hygiene (p=0.00) and history of mastitis (p = 0.04). The isolates were found to be resistant to penicillin G (97.4%), and Tetracycline (69.2%). The study revealed a prevalence of antimicrobial resistant S. aureus from raw milk cow, and swabs, poor milk handling practices, raw milk consumption behaviour in study area. Proper handling and hygiene decrease milk contamination by S.aureus and make it safe for human consumption.