Investigation of the microbial quality and the occurrence of Shiga-like-toxin-producing Escherichia coli and methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus in traditional cheeses produced in northwest of Iran
ISSN: 0034-6659
Article publication date: 27 November 2018
Issue publication date: 9 May 2019
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to evaluate the microbial quality of some traditional cheese samples (sheep, cow and koopeh cheeses) consumed in northwest of Iran, and to detect Shiga-like-toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in cheese samples by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method.
Design/methodology/approach
Almost half of the project was based on counting the population of Staphylococcus aureus, total coliforms, Escherichia coli, and total aerobic mesophilic bacteria, also the other section was related to the isolation and the detection of the STEC and MRSA in cheese samples. The findings were compared with standard maximum and threshold values.
Findings
The results revealed that 36.99, 30.14 and 100% of cheeses exceeded the standard threshold value of E. coli (102), total coliforms (104) and S. aureus (102). However, total coliforms, in any of the cheese samples examined, did not reach the maximum value and only 24.66% of samples exceeded the maximum value of E. coli. Also, no significant difference (p > 0.05) in counts of each bacterial group examined in sheep, cow and koopeh cheeses was observed. The colony PCR method demonstrated the existence of 19 MRSA and 2 STEC isolates.
Originality/value
This research showed a general overview of the bacterial quality of cheeses in northwest of Iran.
Keywords
Citation
Yousefi, M., Farshidi, M., Alizadeh Sani, M., Payahoo, L. and Ehsani, A. (2019), "Investigation of the microbial quality and the occurrence of Shiga-like-toxin-producing
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2018, Emerald Publishing Limited