PREVALENCE OF PATHOGENIC BACTERIA AND ISOLATION OF LACTIC ACID BACTERIA (LAB) FROM PRE-PROCESSED CATTLE MILK ACROSS VARIOUS REGIONS OF PUNJAB, PAKISTAN

Cattle milk is an equitable and nutritious food crucial for human health but substantial nutritious components of milk cause prompt microbial invasion and cause spoilage. Lactose is a crucial part in the new born mammal’s development, being an important energy origin, crucial for heart, liver and kidneys. The current study, focuses milk analysis from four different milk sample collections. It involves physiochemical milk survey (acidity, pH, temperature, fat contents and lactometer reading). The microbial load (total plate count, E.coli, coliforms and Staphylococcus aureus) and organoleptic properties of all milk samples were also measured. Further, the lactobacillus, isolated from milk samples were evaluated and identified. Our results showed variations in different physiochemical properties from different sampling centers. The presence of microorganism was confirmed on plate count agar, detection of metallic green sheen confirmed the presence of Escherichia coli on EMB agar, coliforms on VRB agar, and yellow colonies on Mannitol salt agar confirmed the presence of Staphylococcus aureus. AST result showed that the strain TQ1 was sensitive against azithromycin, cefoperazone, and chloramphenicol whereas resistant against ciprofloxacin and gentamicin were found resistant. While strain TQ2 was sensitive against cefoperazone and chloramphenicol and resistant against azithromycin, ciprofloxacin, and gentamicin. The TQ3 was sensitive against all except azithromycin. This study surveys the bacterial prevalence and isolation of lactic acid bacteria from cattle milk from different milk sample collection centers.