MICROBIAL CONTAMINANTS OF RAW MILK AND THE RISK OF MILK BORNE ZOONOSES AMONG MILKMEN IN SINGUR, WEST BENGAL, INDIA

The present study was conducted to assess the microbial contamination in raw milk emphasizing their potential public health risks in Singur, Hooghly district, West Bengal, India during the period December 2018 to August 2019. A total of 56 samples (21 raw milk, 17 hand swabs of milkmen, 18 udder swabs) were collected to assess the microbial contamination. The samples from milk, hand and udder showed contamination with Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas spp., Proteus spp. and non-typhoidal Salmonella spp. Antibiogram profile of confirmed isolates was found to be 100% resistant to Ampicillin, Cefprozil, Cefixime, and 50% resistant to Erythromycin respectively. All the isolates showed 100% sensitivity to Ciprofloxacin and Co-trimoxazole. The presence of bacteria in the samples indicates that the milk has been contaminated due to unhygienic and poor milking practices. Unhygienic milking practices can be correlated with poor knowledge among the milkmen.