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Little has been published on the factors influencing the safety and quality of milk derived from water buffalo in Bangladesh. This study aims to describe the milk hygiene parameters and milk chain characteristics of unpasteurized raw milk sold to consumers in order to improve milk hygiene. A quantitative study design evaluated somatic cell counts, total bacterial counts, and specific gram-negative (Enterobacteria) and gram-positive (staphylococci) pathogens in 377 aseptically collected milk samples. Samples were collected at multiple nodes along the buffalo milk value chain: 122 bulk tank milk samples were collected at the farm level, 109 milk samples at the middlemen level, and 111 milk samples at the milk collection centers. In addition, 35 samples were taken from various milk products at the retail level. It was found that progressively increasing somatic cell counts and bacterial counts, including potential pathogens, occurred along the milk chain. A seasonal increase in spring was found, varying based on the farming system (semi-intensive versus intensive). Other factors included water purity and cleanliness of containers, mixing buffalo and cow’s milk, and the location of the water buffalo milk producer (coastal or river basin). This study demonstrated how improving udder health and milk hygiene along the water buffalo milk value chain would increase the safety and quality of water buffalo milk in the study area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to propose a novel surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS)-based aptasensor by using 4-mercaptobenzoic acid (4-MBA) modified gold@silver core-shell nanoparticles (Au@Ag NPs) for detecting kanamycin for the first time with outstanding sensitivity and selectivity in the real milk samples. To achieve a high SERS activity substrate, the Au@Ag NPs with uniform shapes in a diameter of 32.2 ± 3.4 nm were synthesized successfully by seed-mediated growth and then modified with the Raman reporter 4-MBA. Under the optimal conditions, this aptamer sensing system exhibited a linear range between 6.67 × 10− 10 g/mL and 2 × 10− 7 g/mL with the limit of detection (142 pg/mL) of kanamycin. Moreover, the KANA-specific aptamer endowed a good specificity to this biosensor for the negative interference from other analogues (streptomycin sulfate, gentamicin sulfate, and penicillin). Finally, the aptasensor was applied in the artificially contaminated milk (1–100 ng/mL) samples and compared with the HPLC-MS technique, with the result indicating great practicality of the aptasensor. This paper has provided a potential aptasensor for simple and rapid trace-sensing of the harmful antibiotic residue in milk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In Ethiopia, around 97% of the annual milk production is accounted by the traditional milk processing system using on-farm traditional milk processing materials that are generally poor in processing capacity, causing high product loss and risky for public consumption. A cross-sectional study was carried out in and around Gondar town, Amhara Regional State of Ethiopia from October 2014 to may 2015 with the objective to assess the bacteriological milk quality, possible hygienic factors and status of S. aureus as contamination of bovine raw milk. The study employed questionnaire survey and raw bacteriological load analysis and cow milk samples for isolation and detection of S. aureus from raw cow milk. Sixty (60) randomly selected dairy farms were interviewed for the survey-based study of farm hygienic practices and 72 raw milk samples [60 from directly from teats and 12 from collecting tanks (buckets) were aseptically collected and tested for bacteriological load analysis and isolation of S. aureus. Results: The overall average total bacterial count (TBC) were 4.59 ± 0.118log10 (38,904.51 cfu/ml) and 4.77 ± 0.23log10 (58,884.37 cfu/ml) for milk samples collected directly from teat during milking and milking buckets at farm level respectively. Accordingly, the count increased by 0.18 ± 0.23 log10 or 19,979.86 cfu/ml (51.36%) increase from teat to milking buckets. Results showed very significant differences in plate counts ( P < 0.05) between the two milk collection points. 73.30% of the milk samples collected directly from the teat were found (>100,000 bacteria per ml), evidence of poor milk hygiene when compared to international standards. In this study hygienic and management factors like udder cleaning, water and soap using for cleaning of udder, hand washing and water and soap using for milking vessels were significantly ( P < 0.05) affects the bacteriological count of the milk. Conclusions: The results of the current study indicated that the cow milk produced and distributed in the study area can generally be considered as substandard in quality for consumption unless pasteurized. Therefore, this risk assessment study with similar different studies reported from different regions in Ethiopia might provide a foundation for the establishment of national milk quality standards that currently do not exist in Ethiopia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The most common milk handling containers used by dairy actors along the informal milk value chain in developing countries are plastics jerry cans which are difficult to effectively be cleaned thus contributing immensely to milk contamination and consequently post-harvest losses. The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of some common cleaning regimes used by the dairy actors in Kenya against reduction of surface microbial load on jerry cans. Milk handling plastic jerry can containers ( n = 16) were obtained from dairy actors and then subjected to four different commonly used cleaning regimes alongside a control experiment of aluminium cans ( n = 4). These containers were aseptically swabbed in three replicates before and after the application of a cleaning regime and the swabs ( n = 120) analyzed for Total Viable Count (TVC), Total Coliform Count (TCC) and Lactic Acid Bacteria (LAB). The quantitative mean difference of the bacterial load reduction between before and after the application of a cleaning regime was used as the measure of its effectiveness. Results: The study found out that irrespective of the cleaning, the type of container was significant ( P < 0.001) in the reduction of microbial contaminants, whereby the aluminium cans had the highest microbial load reduction of 86, 85 and 96 % for TVC, TCC and LAB respectively as compared to 40, 28 and 42 % for TVC, TCC and LAB respectively for plastic jerry cans. The use of a commercial scourer in the cleaning was found to significantly reduce ( P < 0.05) only TVC and TCC. Conclusions: The results from this study explains the unsuitability of plastic jerry cans in handling of milk and a risk factor for milk post-harvest losses in Kenya through microbial contamination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The water used during handling and processing of milk products can be potential sources of microbial contamination with possible negative consequences on food safety. Especially, the water used in keeping the hygiene of milking and milk storage utensils is crucial to keep the quality and safety of the products. Therefore, the current study was designed to assess the bacteriological quality of water used for cleaning milking and milk storage equipment in smallholder dairy production in Hawassa and its surroundings. A total of 79 water samples were collected: 26 from milk collecting houses in Hawassa and 53 from selected smallholder dairy farms (Hawassa = 14, Arsi Negele = 29 and Yirgalem = 10). Out of the total samples, 18 samples were collected directly from pipe and 61 from storage containers (46 from narrow opening and 15 from wide opening containers). The overall prevalence of E. coli exceeding zero CFU/ml was 39.2 %. From analyzed samples, high prevalence of positive samples for E. coli was found in water samples taken from wide opening containers (66.7 %). A number of bacteria were isolated and presumptively identified which include Bacillus sp. 6.3 % (n = 5), Citrobacter sp. 1.3 %(n = 1), E. coli 39.2 % (n = 31), Enterobacter sp. 2.5 % (n = 2), Klebisella sp. 7.6 % (n = 6), Micrococcus sp. 6.3 % (n = 5), Pseudomonas sp. 6.3 % (n = 5), Staphylococcus aureus 6.3 % (n = 5), Staphylococcus epidermidis 13.9 % (n = 11) and Streptococcus sp. 1.3 % (n = 1). The bacteriological quality of water especially, water stored in household storage containers in present study area was found to be contaminated with different bacteria indicating potential food safety problem and health risk to the society. In this respect, people handling water should be educated on its proper handling and the risk of contamination during storage. To minimize contamination, materials with narrow mouth and lid should be used. Further study is recommended on the relationship between the bacteriological quality of water and the behavior of water users. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The potential association between hygienic conditions in the environment of lactating cows and the presence of gliotoxinogenic Aspergillus fumigatus strains was studied. Milk samples (individual cow's milk [ICM], bulk tank milk [BTM]) from 44 dairy farms were sampled. In ICM samples, eight different species of Aspergillus were identified. A. flavus and A. fumigatus were predominant, with 37.8 % and 26.1 % relative densities, respectively. A. fumigatus strains were isolated from 61.4 % of the BTM samples, and 34 % of these strains were able to produce gliotoxin. Principal component analysis was used to associate the presence of A. fumigatus with some hygienic and sanitary practices. A significant and positive correlation was observed between dry cow therapy and forestripping. The presence of A. fumigatus gliotoxin producers in milk was associated with high somatic cells count (SCC) samples. Good hygienic and sanitary practices were associated with absence of A. fumigatus and relatively low SCCs of <250,000 cells/ml. In general, a high percentage of dairy farms were positive for A. fumigatus in BTM samples. This is the first work that indicates the positive effects of adequate hygienic and sanitary practices in dairy herds on the control of A. fumigatus and related species. By reducing the frequency of Aspergillus spp. in the dairy environment, the risk of farm handlers' exposure and the risk of intramammary fungal infections would also be reduced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) was found in all of the 240 raw milk samples collected from milk tanks of 80 dairy farms at a collecting center in the central region of Thailand. Milk samples from individual farms were collected in three seasons. The average concentration of AFM1 in milk samples collected in winter (0.089 ± 0.034 μg/L) was significantly higher than those in rainy season (0.071 ± 0.028 μg/L) and summer (0.050 ± 0.021 μg/L). The present study suggests that regulatory limits for AFM1 are needed to regulate and ensure the quality of raw milk and milk products in Thailand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the study conducted in Nairobi, Kenya regarding the occurrence of chlorfenvinphos residues, the influence of climate changes as well as the method of acaricide application on the residue content in cow's milk. The authors discuss the serious impact of chronic or acute exposure to chlorfenvinphos in human health as well as the danger of having high residue levels of butterfat in cow's milk for human consumption. Furthermore, they presented a comparison on the relationship between percent milk fat and chlorfenvinphos concentration during the wet and dry season as well as on dipped and handsprayed cows.