Identification of enterobacteriaceae in Urfa cheese

The purpose of this study was to determine the Enterobacteriaceae counts and to identify the species isolated in Urfa cheese traditionally manufactured from raw milk in Sanliurfa. In the research, 75 samples obtained from retail markets were examined. Enterobacteriaceae was detected in 45.33% of the samples and counts varied between 102-108 CFU g-1. A total of 8 different species were identified, the most common of those was Klebsiella pneumonia (30% of the isolated strains), followed by Escherichia coli (25.29%), Enterobacter cloacea (16.47%) and Enterobacter aerogenes (11.76%). Klebsiella oxytoca, Citrobacter freundii, Yersinia enterocolitica and Serratia marcescens were present in small quantities (7.06, 5.88, 2.45 and 1.18% of the isolates, respectively). The results obtained from this study clearly indicate that measures should be taken to control and reduce the contamination and multiplication of pathogens such as E. coli, Y. enterocolitica and other Enterobacteriaceae spp. in Urfa cheese. © 2007 Akadémiai Kiadó.