Investigation of Brucella abortus and Brucella melitensis at Cheeses in Afyonkarahisar, Turkey

Brucella contaminates people with raw milk, raw dairy products and especially with cheese made from raw milk. This study has aimed to detect Brucella abortus and Brucella melitensis in fresh cheese (Coban Cheese, 100-mold), traditional Afyon Tulum Cheese (Aged Skin Bag Cheese) (50-mold) and sheep-lamb tulum (50-mold) samples provided from Afyonkarahisar province. Conventional Culture Method has been used in the isolation and identification of B. abortus and B. melitensis. In the case study, Brucella spp. has been detected at the rates of 9% (2% B. abortus, 7% B. melitensis) in the analyzed fresh cheese samples and 6% (2% B. abortus, 4% B. Melitensis) in Afyon Tulum Cheese. However, Brucella spp. has not been detected in analyzed sheep-lamb tulum samples. Consequently, it has been accepted that fresh cheese and Afyon Tulum Cheese samples are contaminated with B. abortus and B. melitensis which impose a high risk for the public health.