Isolation and identification of microorganisms in raw milk is interesting from the viewpoint of public health, since, depending on the species isolated, directed actions may be taken to improve milk quality. Milk deterioration is mainly the result of the growth of psychrotrophic microorganisms that produce heat-resistant lipases and proteases which are not denatured during pasteurization, conferring rancid and sour flavors, respectively. Thus, this work aimed at isolating and identifying the main genera of bacteria belonging to the Enterobacteriaceae family, oxidase-positive Gram-negative, Staphylococcus and Enterococcus genera, as well as determining lipase and protease activity in 16 rural farms in Boa Esperança-MG, Brazil. The Gram-negative bacteria were isolated in Eosin Methylene Blue (EMB) and Hektoen Enteric agar media. Staphylococci were isolated in Baird-Parker agar and Enterococcus in KF agar. Colonies of interest were collected and submitted to Gram stain and to catalase and oxidase tests. Following these procedures, the isolates selected were identified using Bactray I, II and III; Api 20 Strep and tests suggested by Bergey's Manual of Determinative Bacteriology. Sorological identification of Enterococcus was carried out using Prolex. Milk from the 16 rural properties contained strains of fecal microorganisms, such as Escherichia coli and Enterococcus from the Lancefield D group. Oxidase-positive Gram-negative bacteria were identified in five farms. Staphylococcus was found in 10 farms. Milk collected from the farms investigated contained microorganisms that compromise its quality. All the microorganism groups tested showed lipase and protease activities.
raw milk; bacterial identification; mesophyllic bacteria; lipases; proteases
