MICROBIOLOGICAL COMPOSITION OF RAW-MILK FROM SELECTED FARMS IN THE CAMEMBERT REGION OF NORMANDY

Raw milk from 27 farms was sampled over 6 months for listerias, salmon ellas, Yersinia enterocolitica and campylobacters. Total bacterial cou nts and somatic cell counts were measured. Lactococci, lactobacilli, d extran-producing leuconostocs, Brevibacterium linens, yeasts and mould s, Staphylococcus aureus and other Micrococcaceae, Pseudomonas, colifo rms, Escherichia coli, enterococci, Clostridium perfringens and spores of anaerobic lactate-fermenting bacteria were also counted. Pseudomon as (2000 cfu ml(-1)), lactococci (760 cfu ml(-1)) and Micrococcaceae ( 720 cfu ml(-1)) were the most numerous groups. Lactic acid bacteria we re detected in all samples. Coliforms were present in most samples, bu t 84% of samples had counts < 100 cfu ml(-1). Staphylococcus aureus wa s detected in 62% of milks, the average count was 410 cfu ml(-1). Abou t 80% of supplies had less than or equal to 10 E. coli cfu ml(-1) and all samples had less than or equal to 1 Cl. perfringens cfu ml(-1). Tw o of the tested milks were positive for salmonellas (2.9%), four were positive for Listeria monocytogenes (5.8%), 25 for Yersinia enterocoli tica (36%) and one for campylobacters (1.4%).