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Many studies reported the relations among teat characteristics and milk ejection, in cow sheep and goat, but few knowlegments are reported in buffalo. Teat length, teat diameter, teat wall thickness, teat cisternal diameter and teat canal length were measured before morning milking by ultrasound at start of the trial. Milk yield and milk flow parameters were measured in 16 Italian Mediterranean Buffalo cows (parity 3.1±0.4) in mid lactation. 160 milk flow curve (udder level) were recorded in morning (80) and evening (80) milking in five different days in milk (DIM: 125, 139, 153, 166, 180) utilizing a portable milkmeter Lactocorder (WMB AG Balgach). The results are presented as means±standard error of mean, using t-test to compare mean results. Statistical analysis showed that the teat length, teat diameter and teat cistern was significant higher in rear than in front quarters. The mean value of teat canal length (front and rear) was 2.71±0.10 cm; it was higher those in cattle. The milk flow curve showed the predominance of increasing phase 1.89±0.18 min.; decreasing phase was 1.77±0.11 min. and plateau phase was 1.55±0.12 min. The measure of teat anatomy was compared for each buffalo cow with milkability at udder level. The results showed significant Pearson correlations among teat canal length and principal milk flow parameters: maximum flow (r=-0.27; P<0.001), average flow (r=-0.19; P<0.05), main milking time (r=0.20; P<0.05), plateau phase (r=-0.17; P<0.05). Although, individual milkability at udder level is determined by several factors: environmental, physiological and anatomical; in this work milkability is influenced too by teat anatomy in particular by teat canal length, teat diameter and teat wall thickness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A total of 227 Staphylococcus aureus colonies, isolated from 54 samples of raw milk and dairy products of bovine, ovine, caprine and bubaline origin were tested for the presence of genes coding for staphylococcal enterotoxins (SEs/SE ls ) and for methicillin resistance. Ninety-three colonies, from 31 of the 54 samples (57.4%) and from 18 (69.2%) of the 26 farms of origin tested positive for SEs/SE ls genes. Most isolates harboured more than one toxin gene and 15 different toxinotypes were recorded. The most frequent were “ sec ” gene alone (28.6%), “ sea , sed , ser , selj ” (20%), “ seg , sei ” and “ seh ” (8.6%). The 77 colonies harbouring “classical enterotoxins” genes ( sea - sed ) were further tested for enterotoxin production, which was assessed for 59.2% of the colonies. Three methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) isolates were detected in three different ovine milk/dairy product samples (1.3%). All isolates belonged to spa type t127, sequence type 1, clonal complex 1, SCC mec type IVa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]