Surveillance of bacteriological safety of “Wara” (curdled milk) and antibacterial susceptibility of the isolated bacteria

Microbiological food safety is a global issue therefore this study was designed to investigate the bacteria contamination in Wara (curdled milk) and antibiotic susceptibility of the bacterial isolates. A total number of twenty-seven samples of “Wara” were purchased from five different locations in Oyo South Senatorial District, Nigeria. The behavioural pattern was investigated using questionnaires and observation as instruments. Bacterial plate count was found to range from 1×104 cfu/g to 5.4×104 cfu/g. The identification of the isolates was based on morphological and biochemical characteristics exhibited by the isolates. Bacteria isolated are Serratia sp., Escherichia coli, Corynebacterium sp., Klebsiella sp., Enterobacter sp., Bacillus sp., Salmonella typhi and Staphylococcus aureus. Antibiotic susceptibility of the bacterial isolates showed that there is high susceptibility of the isolates to the antibiotics used in this study. However, Bacillus sp., Klebsiella sp., Staphylococcus aureus and Corynebacterium sp. were resistant to Cefuroxime. Klebsiella sp. was found to be resistant to Ampicillin; Corynebacterium was resistant to Cloxacillin while Staphylococcus aureus and Corynebacterium sp. were resistant to Ceftriaxone and Ceftazidime. The presence of Enterobacteriacae in the samples indicates possibility of faecal contamination. Therefore, there is need for constant assessment of “Wara” for public health safety and enlightenment of the people involve in the processing and handling the product in order to reduce the incidence of microbial contamination.