INCIDENCE OF STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS AND COAGULASE POSITIVE STAPH. AUREUS IN RAW MILK IN KOSOVO

Abstract

The presence study was conducted to determine the presence of Staphylococcus aureus and coagulase positive S. aureus in raw milk collected from different localities in Kosovo. We have examined 55 samples of raw milk cow taken from cattle farms. The Staphylococcus aureus was isolated in Baird Parker agar where typical and atypical colonies were selected and submitted to coagulase and complementary tests. Out of 55 samples of raw milk studied, 17 showed contamination by Staphylococcus aureus corresponding to 31% of the samples being contaminated. Out of 17 samples showed contamination by S. aureus, 5 of them were coagulase positive S. aureus or 29 % (or 9 % of total samples analyzed). Results clearly suggested a possibility of potential public health threat of Staphylococcus aureus resulting from contamination of milk with pathogenic bacteria is mainly due to unhygienic processing, handling and unhygienic environment.