MICROBIOLOGICAL QUALITY OF RAW MILK OF Bubalus bubalis IN A BUFFALO FARM, COLÓN MUNICIPALITY, ZULIA STATE

Abstract

In order to assess the microbiological quality of raw milk of Bubalus bubalis on a buffalo farm located in the Colón municipality, Zulia state, ten samples of milk were evaluated and were determined: thermoduric bacteria, total coliforms, psychrophilic bacteria, thermophilic bacteria and Staphylococcus spp. by counting viable colony in Petri dishes according to COVENIN Standards of Venezuela. Moreover, phenotypic assays for the identification of Gram-positive cocci that grow in the milk-salt agar were performed. Through this strategy we identified an average of 23 CFU/mL of thermoduric bacteria, and in 3 of the 10 raw milk samples were identified Staphylococcus aureus (3/3: 100%). Samples of raw milk of buffalos are unsuitable for human consumption and necessary assessment of mastitis in the herd of this farm.