Enterotoxigenicity of staphylococci isolated from raw milk obtained from settled and nomadic herds around Zaria, Nigeria

Abstract

Staphylococcal isolates from 135 raw milk samples obtained from settled herds (42) and nomadic herds (93), were characterized and assayed for enterotoxin production. Of the 42 samples from settled herds, 13 (31 %) were California Mastitis Test (CMT)-positive, but all the samples contained staphylococci. Only 3 (3.2 %) of the 93 raw milk samples from nomadic herds were CMT-positive but 58 (62.4 %) contained staphylococci. Of the 13 isolates from GMT-positive milk obtained from settled herds, one produced enterotoxin A, while amongst the 29 from CMT-positive milk, 4 elaborated enterotoxin A and 3 produced type D. None of the isolates from milk obtained from nomadic herds was enterotoxigenic.