Vol. 10, Special Issue 10 (2021)

Author(s):
Chaitanya Gottapu, Ch. Bindu Kiranmayi, Tumati Srinivasa Rao, K Aswani Kumar, N Subhashini, B Swathi Vimala, Pedada Venkata Chaitanya and Bodempudi Bhavana

Abstract:
Microorganisms gain access into milk and milk products either through contaminated water supply or during unhygienic production, processing and handling. Enterobacteriaceae are frequently encountered in dairy products including milk, cheese and ice cream. The members of Enterobacteriaceae are generally considered as harmless commensals and opportunistic pathogens. However, several recent reports have documented that acquiring the antimicrobial resistance markers made them major concern today. Therefore, the study was conducted to evaluate the microbiological quality of street-vended ice creams sold in different areas of Andhra Pradesh. Ninety-five street vended/ local made ice cream samples were randomly collected and analysed for bacterial contamination. The results revealed Escherichia coli (40), Klebsiella pneumonia (34), Klebsiella oxytoca (7) and Proteus mirabilis (14) by PCR method. None of the samples tested positive for Salmonella spp. All these isolates were tested for production of different β-lactamase genes responsible for antimicrobial resistance by both phenotypic and genotypic methods. Out of 40 isolates of E. coli, five showed bla TEM, one bla SHV, one bla CTXM group 9, 2 bla ACC and 1 isolate showed bla KPC gene. Out of 41 isolates of Klebsiella (34 K. pneumonia and 7 K. oxytoca), 23 isolates showed bla shv genes. Out of 14 isolates of Proteus mirabilis, three isolates showed bla TEM, one isolate showed blaOXA, one bla CTX-M group-1, one showed bla CTX-M group-9, one bla FOX and one bla ACC gene. It is clear from the current studies that there is a necessity for improving the hygienic status of locally produced ice cream.