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Differences in sheep and goats milk microbiological profile between conventional and organic farming systems in Greece

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 March 2017

Eleni Malissiova ,
Theofilos Papadopoulos ,
Aikaterini Kyriazi ,
Maria Mparda ,
Christina Sakorafa ,
Antonios Katsioulis ,
Anna Katsiaflaka ,
Maria Kyritsi ,
Antonios Zdragas  and
Christos Hadjichristodoulou
Eleni Malissiova*
Affiliation:
Dairy Laboratory, Food Technology Faculty, Technological Educational Institute of Thessaly, Greece
Theofilos Papadopoulos
Affiliation:
Veterinary Research Institute of Thessaloniki, National Agricultural Foundation, Thermi, Greece
Aikaterini Kyriazi
Affiliation:
Postgraduate Course Applied Public Health and Environmental Hygiene, Faculty of Medicine, University of Thessaly, Greece
Maria Mparda
Affiliation:
Postgraduate Course Applied Public Health and Environmental Hygiene, Faculty of Medicine, University of Thessaly, Greece
Christina Sakorafa
Affiliation:
Postgraduate Course Applied Public Health and Environmental Hygiene, Faculty of Medicine, University of Thessaly, Greece
Antonios Katsioulis
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Thessaly, Greece
Anna Katsiaflaka
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Thessaly, Greece
Maria Kyritsi
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Thessaly, Greece
Antonios Zdragas
Affiliation:
Veterinary Research Institute of Thessaloniki, National Agricultural Foundation, Thermi, Greece
Christos Hadjichristodoulou
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Thessaly, Greece
*
*For correspondence; e-mail: [email protected]
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Abstract

The aim of this study was to examine differences in the microbiological profile and antimicrobial resistance of bacteria isolated from milk from organic and conventional sheep and goat farms. Twenty-five organic and 25 conventional sheep and goat farms in the region of Thessaly, Greece participated in this study. A standardised detailed questionnaire was used to describe farming practices. A total of 50 samples were collected and analysed for total viable count (TVC), total coliform count (TCC) and somatic cell count (SCC), while Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli were isolated using standard methods. Isolates were identified at species level by Api-test and Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionisation-Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). Susceptibility to a panel of 20 for E. coli and 16 for S. aureus antimicrobials was determined by the agar dilution method. Pulsed Field Gel Electrophoresis (PFGE) was performed for S. aureus and E. coli isolates to determine predominant clones. Lower counts of TVC, TCC and SCC were identified in milk from the organic farms, possibly due to differences in the hygienic farming practices found on those farms. API-tests and MALDI-TOF MS showed no significant differences in the S. aureus and E. coli isolates. Overall, antimicrobial resistance rates were low, while a statistically higher percentage was estimated among strains originating from conventional farms in comparison with organic farms, possibly due to the restriction of antibiotic use in organic farming. PFGE revealed diversity among S. aureus and E. coli populations in both organic and conventional farms indicating circulation of 2–3 main clones changing slightly during their evolution. Consequently, there is evidence that milk from the organic farms presents a better microbiological profile when compared with milk from conventional farms.

Keywords

Organicgoat and sheep milkmicrobiological profileStaphylococcus aureusEscherichia coliantibiotic resistance
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Dairy Research , Volume 84 , Issue 2 , May 2017 , pp. 206 - 213
Copyright
Copyright © Proprietors of Journal of Dairy Research 2017 

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