An-Najah Staff

Enterotoxin genes (sea-see) in Staphylococcus aureus isolates recovered from milk of clinically healthy sheep and cows in the north of Palestine were determined using a polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Thirty-seven (37%) out of 100 S. aureus isolates were toxin gene positive. Four strains (10.8%) were sea-positive, 20 (54.1%) were seb-positive, 4 (10.8%) were sec-positive, 6 (16.2%) were sed-positive and 3 (8.1%) were see-positive. None of these enterotoxigenic isolates carried more than one toxin gene. This study indicates that the presence of enterotoxigenic S. aureus in raw milk can contribute to the sources of staphylococcal food poisoning in Palestine.

The absences or insufficient food control program result in the occurrence of mycotoxin in milk and milk products, which poses a serious risk for humans and can be a public health concern. This study was conducted to highlight the occurrence of aflatoxin M1 in Palestine raw milk collected at farms from Tulkarm, Nablus and Jenin. Aflatoxin M1 was determined by direct competitive ELISA technique. 85 % (34 of 40) of the total examined raw milk samples tested were positive. The aflatoxin M1 contamination levels were between 3 - 80 ppt with a mean of 29.57 ppt. There was a high incidence rate with 92 % (11 of 12) and the highest means of contaminated with aflatoxin M1 in the samples tested in Tulkarm city (P ≤ 0.05). 20 % of the analyzed samples (8 of 40) exceeded the maximum permissible limit (50 ppt) in European Codex, with a range of 2 - 80 ppt.

Enterotoxin genes ( sea-see ) in Staphylococcus aureus isolates recovered from milk of clinically healthy sheep and cows in the north of Palestine were determined using a polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Thirty-seven (37%) out of 100 S. aureus isolates were toxin gene positive. Four strains (10.8%) were sea-positive, 20 (54.1%) were seb-positive, 4 (10.8%) were sec-positive, 6 (16.2%) were sed-positive and 3 (8.1%) were see-positive. None of these enterotoxigenic isolates carried more than one toxin gene. This study indicates that the presence of enterotoxigenic S. aureus in raw milk can contribute to the sources of staphylococcal food poisoning in Palestine.

Enterotoxin genes (sea-see) in Staphylococcus aureus isolates recovered from milk of clinically healthy sheep and cows in the north of Palestine were determined using a polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Thirty-seven (37%) out of 100 S. aureus isolates were toxin gene positive. Four strains (10.8%) were sea-positive, 20 (54.1%) were seb-positive, 4 (10.8%) were sec-positive, 6 (16.2%) were sed-positive and 3 (8.1%) were see-positive. None of these enterotoxigenic isolates carried more than one toxin gene. This study indicates that the presence of enterotoxigenic S. aureus in raw milk can contribute to the sources of staphylococcal food poisoning in Palestine.