Abstract
Listeria species lead to mastitis infection in cows. The aerobic mesophilic bacteria count (total bacteria count) is one of the most important factors affecting udder health and determining the milk quality. The aim of this study was to determine the aerobic mesophilic bacteria count, one of the most important factors affecting cow's milk quality, and presence and the antibiotic resistance profiles of Listeria spp., one of the factors causing mastitis in cows. As a result of isolation and identification for Listeria spp., totally 3 L. monocytogenes (n: 68, 4.41%), 7 L. innocua (n: 68, 10.29%) and 3 L. ivanovii (n: 68, 4.41%) were isolated from cow milk samples. According to results of the disc diffusion method performed to determine antibiotic susceptibility, it was found that L. monocytogenes, L. innocua, and L. ivanovii isolates were susceptive against sulfamethoxazole/ trimethoprim, meropenem, vancomycin, streptomycin, oxacillin and erythromycin. The aerobic mesophilic bacteria in the cow milk samples were detected 1.1x107 cfu/ml as the highest and 2.3x102 cfu/ml as the lowest. The average aerobic mesophilic bacteria count of milk samples was calculated 256623.971 cfu/ml. The total bacteria (aerobic mesophilic bacteria) count (cfu/ml) of milk samples in the study was found to be high based on the criteria stated in the national and international standards. Also, Listeria species were isolated from these samples. Since intermediate and resistant Listeria species were determined against the antibiotics used as a treatment option in these isolates, it is thought that Listeria species should also be considered in mastitis infections in terms of etiology and treatment. It is considered that a national mastitis control program is needed for preventing the mastitis infections and antibiotic resistance development causing economic losses in dairy cattle enterprises in order to provide milking hygiene
completely.