CHARACTERIZATION OF STAPHYLOCOCCI IN SHE-CAMEL MILK: EVALUATION OF ZOONOTIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL THREATS IN PERIURBAN CAMEL HERDS OF ZIBAN REGION, ALGERIA

Abstract

The subclinical mastitis is a major scourge in the camel farms.The pathogenic staphylococci are among the dominant causative agents of mastitis.The first part of the present study aims to estimate the prevalence of Staphylococcus spp. in overall milk per udder samples (n = 18) randomly selected among three camel herds in the region of Biskra. Following an epidemiological investigation, raw milk underwent bacteriological analysis emphasizing the identification and enumeration of staphylococci. In the second part of study, we investigated the impact of the anatomical position of the udder quarters on the infection rates due to Staphylococcus spp. Therefore from six she-camels reared in two farms, 24 raw milk samples were collected. Results show that the high rates and the diversity of isolated Staphylococcus spp. reflect inappropriate husbandry practices and illusory health status of the main camel herds. The milk contamination rates recorded at the herds H1 (Loutaya), H2 (Ain El'Kerma), H3 (Oumache) and H5 (Loutaya) do not conform to the limited value in the Algerian Official Journal.Also, it is an indicator of the perennity of subclinical mastitis insidiously. The infection rates and the isolated species of staphylococci are not identical for all the quarters in the same she-camel which were confirmed by the Kendall Tau-B correlation test (p = 0.05). It would be important to apply the standards H.A.C.C.P. either at the herd level, during milk collection and in milk marketing shops. Vulgarization of both herders and consumers would minimize the risk of food-borne illnesses.

Keywords

• subclinical mastitis
• food borne diseases
• staphylococcus aureus
• biskra
• ouled djellal