Foodborne pathogens in unpasteurized milk in Sweden

• Raw milk may be a risk for public health if it is contaminated with zoonotic pathogens. To study the prevalencein unpasteurized milk from Swedish farms, bovine and small ruminant dairy farms were sampled. Since thesampling method and transport conditions may influence the outcome of analyses, efforts were made to optimizethe methodology. Culturing of bacteria was done from in-line milk filters collected from the milk pipe at thepoint where it enters the milk bulk tank at the farms and this way of sampling was compared to sampling bulktank milk (BTM) directly. Analysing milk filters were found to be superior to analysing BTM directly. Conditionsfor transport of milk filter samples were further improved by the addition of Cary Blair transport medium, whichsignificantly increased the number of positive samples for pathogenic bacteria. The isolation of several foodbornepathogens from milk filters was demonstrated. The prevalence of samples with Staphylococcus aureus was71% and 64%, and Listeria spp. 21% and 29% from dairy cow and goat/sheep farms, respectively. Campylobacterjejuni, Yersinia enterocolitica and verotoxigenic Escherichia coli (VTEC) O157 were detected in 9%, 2% and 2% ofsamples from bovine milk, respectively.We conclude that the choice of sampling method and sample handling influence the results of bacterialculturing. From the results of this study, we strongly recommend to sample in-line milk filters instead of BTMdirectly and to use Cary Blair medium during transport, especially if the samples are to be analysed forCampylobacter spp. and/or Listeria spp. The findings also show that unpasteurized milk from Swedish farmsoccasionally contain bacteria with zoonotic potential.

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Medicinska och farmaceutiska grundvetenskaper -- Mikrobiologi inom det medicinska området (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Basic Medicine -- Microbiology in the medical area (hsv//eng)

TEKNIK OCH TEKNOLOGIER  -- Annan teknik -- Livsmedelsteknik (hsv//swe)

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY  -- Other Engineering and Technologies -- Food Engineering (hsv//eng)

LANTBRUKSVETENSKAPER  -- Lantbruksvetenskap, skogsbruk och fiske -- Livsmedelsvetenskap (hsv//swe)

AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES  -- Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries -- Food Science (hsv//eng)

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