A Study on the Prevalence of Bacillus cereus Emetic Strains in Raw Milk in and around Srinagar City of J and K.
Musvi S. Altaf¹, Syed Arshad Hussain1, Chauhan Rayaz Ahmad², Willayat M. M¹, Imtiyaz A. H.³ and Shakoor Bhat¹1Depatment of Veterinary Public Health, Skuast, India.
²Private Field Vet.
³Department of LPT, Skuast, India.
Abstract: The present investigation pertains the starch adulteration of raw milk, along with study of prevalence and toxigenicity studies of Bacillus cereus emetic strain isolates of raw milk in Kashmir valley. The investigation was conducted during October 2009-June 2010. A total of 175 samples comprising of 50 raw milk were tested. Starch/rice flour was detected in 7, samples of raw milk. Bacillus cereus emetic strains were isolated from 8 of the raw milk samples making a prevalence of 16 percent contamination of Bacillus cereus emetic strain in raw milk available in and around the Srinagar city. Different areas of the Srinagar city differed with respect to starch adulteration as well as contamination of Bacillus cereus emetic strains. Central zone had the highest percentage of positive samples of milk (20%). The field isolates and the standard strain of Bacillus cereus had similar cultural, morphological and biochemical characteristics.
Keywords: Raw milk; Bacillus cereus emetic strains; Prevalence; standard strain (NCTC 11143) Back to TOC