Assessing the Microbial Contamination Levels in Milk Samples from Rural and Urban Areas: A Focus on Raisen and Bhopal Districts

Abstract

AbstractThis study aimed to assess the level of microbial contamination in raw cow milk samples collected from farms in rural and urban regions of Raisen and Bhopal districts, Madhya Pradesh, India. Recent data are gathered to investigate the microbial quality of the milk samples directly, rather than relying on reported findings from other sources. The results reveal that both rural and urban milk samples exhibit significantly higher bacterial colony counts compared to acceptable limits for total viable count. The average total viable count for urban samples is 8.699 log CFU mL−1, with a standard deviation of 0.821 log CFU mL−1, using a sample size of 1 mL. Moreover, urban samples show a higher initial incubation count (8.728 ± 0.431 log CFU mL‐1), indicating potential unsanitary milk handling practices in urban areas. In contrast, rural milk samples demonstrate significantly lower bacterial counts (8.0778 ± 0.079 log CFU mL−1) and exhibit superior laboratory sanitization measures. Enteric bacteria such as Escherichia coli, Enterobacter species, Klebsiella species, and Shigella are found in both urban and rural milk samples after isolation. However, strains of bacterial culture specific to Pseudomonas and Salmonella species are exclusively detected in urban samples, suggesting a higher contamination level in urban areas compared to rural regions. These findings highlight the urgent need for improved milk production and handling practices in both rural and urban areas, particularly in urban settings where the contamination levels are found to be significantly higher. The results of this study contribute to the understanding of microbial quality in raw cow milk and emphasize the importance of implementing appropriate interventions to ensure the safety and quality of milk consumed by the population.