ASSESSMENT OF HYGIENIC PRACTICES, ISOLATION, AND ANTIMICROBIAL SUSCEPTIBILITY PATTERN OF Staphylococcus aureus FROM RAW COW MILK AT SELECTED DAIRY FARMS IN DIRE DAWA CITY, EASTERN ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Milk is a vital source of nutrients for both humans and animals, and it must be free of potentially hazardous microorganisms. A cross-sectional study was undertaken from December 2022 to June 2023 to investigate milk handling practices and to estimate the prevalence, associated risk factors, and antibiotic susceptibility profile of S. aureus isolates in selected dairy farms in Dire Dawa, Ethiopia. Face-to-face interviews with 100 respondents using a structured questionnaire based on their familiarity with the farm were conducted to assess the potential risk factors for S. aureus contaminations in milk. Besides, a total of 132 lactating cow samples were gathered using a simple random sampling technique from a selected dairy farms and tested using standard microbiological procedures. The disc diffusion method was also used to analyze the isolates' antibiotic susceptibility profiles. In the study area about milk handling practices, among the total of 100 interviewed respondents, 57.00%, 70.00%, 47.00%, 86.00%, 43.00%, 86.00%, 63.00%, 40.00%, 31.00%, and 24.00% interviewers were experienced hand washing before milking, uses plastic milking equipment, uses detergent to clean bucket, randomly milking, milking of mastitis animals, cleaning barn once per day, consumed raw milk, GIT disturbance while drinking raw milk, had awareness on milk born infection, and acquiring illness, respectively. On the other hand, all of them practiced storing milk at room temperature and in plastics. Of all respondents, 63.00% kept milk up to 2 hours before use. The overall recorded prevalence of S. aureus was 18.2% (24/132). The prevalence of S. aureus from milk, hands of milkers, and equipment swabs were 15.9%, 29.2%, and 25.0%, respectively. There was significant statistical variation between the prevalence of S. aureus concerning farm categories, age, parity, lactation stage, udder and leg hygiene, and history of mastitis cow (p<0.05). Moreover, the isolate was found to be susceptible to Sulphamethezole (83.3%), and Vancomycin (66.7%) whereas strongly resistant to Penicillin (83.3%). The study found antibiotic-resistant S. aureus in raw milk cows and swabs, as well as poor milk handling, practices, and raw milk-consuming behavior in the study area. To protect against milk contamination with S. aureus and sanitary milk handling practices in the study area, dairy producers should be educated on correct milk handling and hygiene practices.