The microbial content of unexpired pasteurized milk from selected supermarkets in a developing country.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the presence and levels of microbes in unexpired pasteurized milk from randomly selected supermarkets in Kingston, Jamaica. METHODS: The quantitative study used a stratified random sampling technique in the selection of the 20 representative milk samples from six (6) supermarkets. Microbiological tests such as methylene blue reduction, standard plate count (SPC), coliform plate count (CPC), purity plate culture, gram staining and biochemical tests were performed to examine the microbes in purchased unexpired pasteurized milk. RESULTS: One sample (BCr016) had a pH of 4.0, a rancid odour and curdled appearance. It decolourized within one hour during the methylene blue reduction test and was classified as class 4 milk. Seven of the samples were sterile with no microbe growth on the plate count agar and violet red bile salt agar (VRBA). The milk samples that appeared to be safe for consumption were all 10, 11, 12 and 13 days before expiration. The VRBA sample BCr016, had a colony count of 13 400 CFU/ mL. There was the presence of Escherichia coli in sample LCr021 which had a standard plate count of 1 580 SPC/mL and a coliform count of 500 CFU/mL. Enterobacter sp. was present in colonies from BCr016 and all the other milk samples. CONCLUSIONS: Unacceptable levels of Enterobacter spp. and Escherichia coli were found in most of the samples. Effective measures to ensure safe milk for human consumption such as the phosphatase test and methylene blue reduction test should be routinely performed on each batch of milk processed by dairy plants.

Eficiência dos testes COPAN (Microplate e Single) na detecção de resíduos de antimicrobianos no leite / Efficacy of COPAN (Microplate and Single kits) in detection of antimicrobials residues in milk

Avaliou-se a eficiência dos testes microbiológicos COPAN (Microplate e Single) para detecção de resíduos de 13 antimicrobianos inoculados em leite isento de resíduos. Foram utilizadas quatro concentrações, sendo a primeira equivalente à metade do limite de detecção declarado pelo fabricante (C1); a segunda equivalente ao limite máximo de resíduos (LMR) estabelecido pela legislação brasileira (C2); a terceira equivalente ao limite de detecção declarado pelo fabricante (C3); e a quarta equivalente ao dobro do limite de detecção declarado pelo fabricante (C4). Os testes apresentaram 100 por cento de sensibilidade na detecção de amoxicilina, ampicilina, cloxacilina, penicilina, tilosina, sulfadiazina, sulfametoxazol, e 96,7 por cento na detecção de oxacilina para as concentrações informadas pelo fabricante como limite de detecção. Em relação às concentrações estabelecidas pela legislação brasileira, verificou-se que os testes foram capazes de detectá-las para a maioria dos antimicrobianos avaliados. Os testes não se mostraram eficientes na detecção das concentrações estabelecidas pela legislação para eritromicina, oxitetraciclina, tetraciclina, trimetoprim e gentamicina (Microplate).(AU)

The efficacy of the microbiological kits COPAN (Microplate and Single) for detection of antimicrobials residues was tested. Thirteen drugs were inoculated into milk without residues at four concentration levels: C1 - half of the detection threshold declared by the manufacturer, C2 - the maximum residues threshold established by the Brazilian legislation, C3 - the detection threshold declared by the manufacturer, and C4 - two fold the detection threshold declared by the manufacturer. The tests showed 100 percent efficient in detection of amoxicillin, cloxacillin, penicillin, tilosin, sulfadiazine, and sulfa methoxazol; and 96.7 percent for oxacillin considering the concentration stated by the manufacturer as threshold level. Regarding the concentrations established by the Brazilian legislation, all tested kits were able to detect most of the evaluated antimicrobials. The kits were not efficient in detection of the concentration levels established by the Brazilian legislation for erythromycin, oxytetracyclin, tetracyclin, trimetoprim, and gentamycin (Microplate).(AU)

Eficiência dos testes COPAN (Microplate e Single) na detecção de resíduos de antimicrobianos no leite / Efficacy of COPAN (Microplate and Single kits) in detection of antimicrobials residues in milk

Avaliou-se a eficiência dos testes microbiológicos COPAN (Microplate e Single) para detecção de resíduos de 13 antimicrobianos inoculados em leite isento de resíduos. Foram utilizadas quatro concentrações, sendo a primeira equivalente à metade do limite de detecção declarado pelo fabricante (C1); a segunda equivalente ao limite máximo de resíduos (LMR) estabelecido pela legislação brasileira (C2); a terceira equivalente ao limite de detecção declarado pelo fabricante (C3); e a quarta equivalente ao dobro do limite de detecção declarado pelo fabricante (C4). Os testes apresentaram 100 por cento de sensibilidade na detecção de amoxicilina, ampicilina, cloxacilina, penicilina, tilosina, sulfadiazina, sulfametoxazol, e 96,7 por cento na detecção de oxacilina para as concentrações informadas pelo fabricante como limite de detecção. Em relação às concentrações estabelecidas pela legislação brasileira, verificou-se que os testes foram capazes de detectá-las para a maioria dos antimicrobianos avaliados. Os testes não se mostraram eficientes na detecção das concentrações estabelecidas pela legislação para eritromicina, oxitetraciclina, tetraciclina, trimetoprim e gentamicina (Microplate).

The efficacy of the microbiological kits COPAN (Microplate and Single) for detection of antimicrobials residues was tested. Thirteen drugs were inoculated into milk without residues at four concentration levels: C1 - half of the detection threshold declared by the manufacturer, C2 - the maximum residues threshold established by the Brazilian legislation, C3 - the detection threshold declared by the manufacturer, and C4 - two fold the detection threshold declared by the manufacturer. The tests showed 100 percent efficient in detection of amoxicillin, cloxacillin, penicillin, tilosin, sulfadiazine, and sulfa methoxazol; and 96.7 percent for oxacillin considering the concentration stated by the manufacturer as threshold level. Regarding the concentrations established by the Brazilian legislation, all tested kits were able to detect most of the evaluated antimicrobials. The kits were not efficient in detection of the concentration levels established by the Brazilian legislation for erythromycin, oxytetracyclin, tetracyclin, trimetoprim, and gentamycin (Microplate).