Detection ofSalmonellaspp.,Candida albicans,Aspergillusspp., and Antimicrobial Residues in Raw and Processed Cow Milk from Selected Smallholder Farms of Zimbabwe

Abstract

A cross-sectional study was conducted to detect the presence ofSalmonellaspp.,Candida albicans,Aspergillusspp., and antimicrobial residues in raw milk (n=120) and processed cow milk (n=20) from smallholder dairy farms from three sites in Zimbabwe. Culture and isolation ofSalmonellaspp.,C. albicans, andAspergillusspp. were performed using selective media, while antimicrobial residues were detected by a dye reduction test. NoSalmonella, butC. albicans(17.5%; 21/120),Aspergillusspp. (0.8%; 1/120), and antimicrobial residues (2.5%; 3/120) were detected from raw milk.C. albicanswas isolated from all three sites, whileAspergillusspp. and antimicrobial residues were detected from sites 1 and 3, respectively. From processed milk, onlyC. albicans(5%) was isolated whileAspergillusspp. and antimicrobial residues were not detected. These results suggested low prevalence ofSalmonellaspp. andAspergillusspp. and a relatively high prevalence ofC. albicansin raw milk from the smallholder farms. The potential public health risks ofC. albicansand the detected antimicrobial residues need to be considered. Thus, educating farmers on improving milking hygiene and storage of milk and establishing programmes for monitoring antimicrobial residues may help to improve the safety of milk from smallholder farms.