ISSN: 2574-2701
Authors: Njeru PN*, Ghadimi D#, Nduti NN#, Mitheko AN, Musila FM, Koberg S, Haberman D, Franz C and Kabisch J
Donkey milk (DM) has attracted a lot of attention in the recent past probably due to its functional properties. It has been viewed as a suitable replacement to cow milk especially for children with cow milk allergies because it has properties similar to human breast milk. While its properties have been studied in most parts of the world, there seem to be no available data on the quality of donkey milk in Kenya. This is despite the fact that the milk has gained popularity amongst the locals as a therapeutic food capable of curing various ailments as per the locals’ claims. The presence of disease-causing organisms is a concern when considering the safety of drinking raw and fermented donkey milk. Hence, the aim of this study was to analyze the microbiological quality specifically focusing on pathogens of raw and fermented donkey milk sampled in Kenya using culture dependent methods and 16S rDNA sequencing. Pooled donkey milk samples were sampled from Nakuru and Naivasha towns in Kenya and transported in cooler box in dry ice to Kiel, Germany for analysis. The presence of pathogenic microorganisms was investigated by laboratory procedures according to the relevant routine protocols (MBT). The samples were analyzed for Total viable counts (TVC) and pathogens. The presence of Salmonella and Shigela spp was tested using Xylose Lysine Deoxycholate (XLD) and Salmonella-Shigela (SS) Agar. Pathogenic non-O157 ShigaToxin-producing E.coli (STEC) presence was tested using CHROMagarTM –STEC. Other Escherichia coli were tested using Tryptone Bile X-Glucuronic (TBX) Agar while Campylobacter spp presence was tested using modified cefoperazone charcoal deoxycholate agar (mCCDA) and Karmali agar. The presence of Listeria spp was tested using ALOA® Oxoid-Chromogenic Listeria agar. Salmonella shigella deoxycholate calcium (SSDC) and Oxoid Yersinia Selective Agar (Schiemann’s CIN Agar) agar was used to detect the presence of pathogenic Yersinia enterolitica. All these spp tested negative in both fresh and fermented DM samples. Our results indicate that donkey milk could be safe microbiologically for consumption and more research is needed to verify the health benefits claims. There is also need to do whole genome analysis to capture the microorganisms that cannot be cultured.
Keywords: Donkey; Milk; Pathogens; Cow Milk; Naivasha
