ISSN 2736-1756
Advanced Journal of Microbiology Research Vol. 2012
Available online at http://internationalscholarsjournals.org/journal/ajmr
© 2012 International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
A survey of Salmonella enterica contamination of camel milk in Kenya
Matofari, J. W., Shitandi, A.*, Shalo, P. L., Nanua, N. J., Younan, M.
Guildford Dairy Institute, Egerton University Njoro, P.O. Box 536 Egerton 20107 Kenya.
Accepted 3 May, 2012
Abstract
This study was undertaken to conduct a baseline risk analysis of raw camel milk with special emphasis on Salmonella enterica serovars. Cross-sectional studies were designed to investigate the prevalence of S. enterica serovars in a major camel milk production zone of Kenya. A total of 196 samples were assessed for possible presence of S. enterica. The samples included composite milk from the individual camel udders, bulk milk from collection and market centres, faeces, soil and water samples. Of the 196 samples tested, 43% (84/196) were found to contain Salmonella species. Out of the 84, only 31% (26/84) was positively identified as S. enterica. S. enterica was found in all the sample categories that repre-sented the camel milk production environment. The results suggest that raw camel milk contamination by S. enterica was influenced by post-harvest handling of the product rather than camel infection by the pathogen. It was concluded that a need exists to formulate better regulation strategies for the safe handling of camel milk on rural Kenyan farms.
Key words: Camel milk; Salmonella enterica, Milk safety, Kenya.