Isolation and Identification of Pseudomonas paralactis in Cow Milk Samples Collected from “Andella” Area, Hambantota District, Sri Lanka

This study, conducted in the “Andella” area, Hambantota district, Sri Lanka, investigated the presence of bacteria in cow milk samples from semi-intensively managed nine dairy farms. The study aimed to identify bacterial contamination levels and to emphasise the importance of monitoring the contaminants to ensure milk quality and safety in the local dairy industry. Bacterial enumeration, isolation and identification were carried out using standard microbiological and molecular biological techniques, including 16S rRNA gene sequencing. During bacterial enumeration assays, milk obtained from Farm G showed the highest bacterial colony count, while Farm B showed the lowest. The fewer bacterial counts of cow milk from five farms (A, B, D, F, and I) were not significantly different, while the counts of the other four farms (C, E, G and H) were significantly different. The results demonstrated a notable occurrence of Pseudomonas paralactis (PP155068) in all the milk samples obtained from the four farms, showing higher bacterial loads. It underscored the importance of controlling this bacterium for maintaining milk quality and safety. The findings contribute valuable insights into the prevalence and potential sources of contamination in the local dairy industry, offering insights for future interventions to enhance dairy product safety.