Microbiological Risk Factors for Staphylococcus aureus Transmission in Organized vs. Unorganized Dairy Farms
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Abstract
Introduction: Staphylococcus aureus is an important foodborne pathogen and a major concern in the dairy industry due to its association with bovine mastitis and milk contamination. Mastitis caused by S. aureus leads to significant economic losses in dairy production by reducing milk yield and quality, while also posing potential public health risks through contaminated milk and dairy products. The persistence of this pathogen in the farm environment, combined with poor hygiene practices during milking, increases the risk of transmission from animals, farm workers, and environmental sources. Differences in management practices between organized and unorganized dairy farms may influence the prevalence and spread of S. aureus. Therefore, monitoring its occurrence in milk and farm-associated sources is essential to identify potential contamination routes and improve milk safety.
Objectives: The present study aimed to assess microbiological hazards associated with the dissemination of Staphylococcus aureus in organized and unorganized dairy production farms.
Methods: A total of 120 samples were collected from both organized and unorganized dairy farms, including raw milk (40), udder swabs (40), floor swabs (20), and milker hand swabs (20). Isolation and identification of S. aureus were performed using Baird–Parker agar followed by biochemical confirmation. The presence of mastitis in milk samples was evaluated using the California Mastitis Test (CMT).
Results: The overall prevalence of S. aureus was 37.5% in milk samples, 15% in udder swabs, 60% in floor swabs, and 30% in hand swabs. Unorganized farms showed higher prevalence rates (raw milk: 45%, udder swabs: 20%, floor swabs: 100%, hand swabs: 41.6%) compared to organized farms (raw milk: 30%, udder swabs: 10%, floor swabs: 20%, hand swabs: 12.5%). Mastitis was detected in 32.5% of milk samples, with higher occurrence in unorganized farms (35%) than organized farms (30%). Among mastitic samples, S. aureus prevalence was 61.5%, with higher detection in unorganized farms (71.4%) than organized farms (50%).
Conclusions: Unorganized dairy farms exhibited higher contamination levels due to risk factors such as mastitis, environmental contamination, and poor hygiene practices, which facilitate the transmission of S. aureus. Implementing interventions such as routine mastitis screening and hygiene training for farm workers is essential to reduce S. aureus transmission and ensure milk safety.