ABSTRACT
Milk samples obtained from different points of the processing flow at a type “A” milk farm were analysed with the objective to verify possible points of Aeromonas genus bacteria contamination and dissemination. In 80 samples analysed, Aeromonas spp. were isolated in 37 (46.25%) of them. From each point of the processing flow 20 samples were obtained. The results showed that 90% (18/20) of raw milk samples, 30% (6/20) of the pasteurizer-exit samples, 40% (8/20) of the packing-machine-tank samples and 25% (5/20) of ready-to-drink milk samples were positive on isolation. The breakdown by species of the bacteria isolated was: Aeromonas sobria in 40.54% of the samples, Aeromonas hydrophila and Aeromonas caviae in 21.62%, Aeromonas veronii in 10.81%, and Aeromonas schubertii in 2.7%. Of the isolated strains, 37 were submitted to antimicrobial susceptibility testing, which revealed that 100% were resistant to ampicillin, 75.64% to cephalotin, 64.86% to cefoxitin and 48.64% to aztreonam. The strains presented less resistance to chloramphenicol, netilmicin, amikacin, gentamicin, tetracycline and tobramycin. The results demonstrate that Aeromonas spp. bacteria resistant to several antimicrobials may be present in type “A” milk, indicating that this product might be a risk to consumer health, and this data should be an alert to public health services.
KEY WORDS
Aeromonas spp.; pasteurized milk; antimicrobials