Listeria spp., y L. monocytogenes en leche cruda de cabra

Objective: To test non-pasteurized goat's milk from the village of 'la Garita', Northern Santander, for Listeria monocytogenes. Material and methods: 90 samples of non-pasteurized goat's milk were obtained over a 4 month period; pH and temperature of each sample were measured. The INVIMA technique was used to isolate L. monocytogenes; the species was confirmed by PCR. Results: The study showed that eight goat milk providers of the zone neither had refrigeration nor pasteurized the milk. The prevalence of L. monocytogenes was 3%; 15% of the samples had other species of Listeria. The milk obtained from this zone contained the pathogen that may cause listeriosis in children less than 5 years of age, pregnant women, adults and immunologically compromised patients. Conclusions: This study shows the occurrence of this pathogen in goat's milk and identified areas of risk for those people who drink goat's milk.