STUDIES ON ENTEROTOXIGENIC BACILLUS CEREUS IN RAW MILK AND SOME DAIRY PRODUCTS

Research Abstract

Abstract A total of 150 samples of raw milk, ice cream and yoghurt (50 of each) were collected randomly in their packages from different localities in Bani-suef governorate, Egypt to study the presence of Bacillus cereus in these products. Bacillus cereus could be detected in 30, 48 and 2 % of examined raw milk, ice cream and yoghurt samples with a mean count of 9.11 x 102 + 4.87 x 102, 6.37 x 103 + 2.83 x 103 and 6+5.9 cells/ ml or g respectively. All Bacillus cereus isolates showed haemolytic activity, 95 % of isolates showed vero cell toxicity and 27.5 % of them killed adult mice. Bacillus cereus could not be detected in artificially inoculated yoghurt after 24 and 48 h. Bacillus cereus were sensitive to pefloxacin, gentamycin, chloramphenicol and nalidixic acid, whereas all isolates were resistant to colistin sulphate. Public health significance and suggestive control measures are discussed.

Research Keywords

ENTEROTOXIGENIC- BACILLUS CEREUS - MILK - DAIRY PRODUCTS-ice cream –yoghurt- Bani-suef