Samples from different types of domestic milk products including cheese, kishfa and gaymer were assessed for bacteriological quality over a 4-month period. A total of 400 samples were randomly selected across Mosul city and tested for faecal coliform counts, enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) and enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC). Faecal coliforms were present at levels greater than 10(2) cfu/g in 72.5% and less than 10(2) cfu/g in 27.5% of samples. Of the 430 E. coli strains isolated from the 400 samples of milk products, 138 were serotypes of EPEC. These were found in 81 (40.5%) samples of cheese, 35 (23.8%) of kishfa and 22 (29.7%) of gaymer. During this period, 26 strains of ETEC were also isolated, all of which demonstrated heat-labile or heat-stable toxins. The high proportion of strains of three groups of E. coli showing resistance to antibiotics is discussed in relation to widespread use of antibiotics and the possible public health implication.

A survey of 60 cheese samples from three different manufacturers and marketed in Mosul were analyzed during the summer of 1987 for fecal coliform counts and also for the presence of enteropathogenic Escherichia coli. Among these samples there was a wide variations in counts, which ranged from <10 to 26000/g while the average ranged from 500 to 14000/g. Only 43 E. coli isolates were recovered from the cheese. Four of them agglutinated with antisera used to screen for classical enteropathogenic sero types.

A total of 79 strains of staphylococci isolated from milk of mastitic cows in different Ninevah localities was divided into three groups based on biochemical activity. Group A was classified as Staphylococcus aureus. The resistance of these strains to antibiotics was: penicillin, 47.17%, streptomycin, 20.75%; erthromycin, 9.43%; and chloramphenicol, 5.66%. Most of the strains were resistant to the international phage set but were sensitive to phages 78 and 102 of the bovine phage set. Five strains produced enterotoxin C and two strains produced enterotoxin D.

The antimicrobial sensitivity of 430 Escherichia coli strains isolated from three types of locally processed Iraqi milk products was determined. Four hundred and one (93.2%) isolates were resistant to one or more antimicrobial agents, and only 29 (6.7%) isolates were sensitive to all 12 agents tested. The incidence of resistant E. coli was 95.5%, 90.4% and 84.4% in isolates from cheese, kishfa, and gaymer, respectively. There was no significant difference in resistance among E. coli strains from various milk products. Overall, resistance to penicillin (92.3%), erythromycin (75.8%), cephaloridine (71.9%), ampicillin (57.7%), and tetracycline (37%) was most frequent, whereas isolates were least resistant to kanamycin (7.2%), chloramphenicol (8.1%), nalidixic acid (8.6%), gentamycin (9%), streptomycin (12.5%), trimethoprim (14%), and colistin (18%). The predominant antimicrobial resistance pattern was penicillin, ampicillin, cephaloridine, and erythromycin detected in 77 (18%). The high resistance of E. coli strains isolated from product samples was suggestive of misuse of these drugs in Iraq.

A total of 30 samples of butter analysed during the course of the investigation showed that fecal coliforms were absent from only 13.3% of samples. One hundred forty colonies of fecal coliforms were biochemically characterized with the following types obtained (Escherichia sp. 41.4%, Enterobacter sp. 25.7%, Citrobacter sp. 20%, Klebsiella sp. 10%). Five different serotypes, namely 0 125 K70(2), 0 142K86(1), 0 127K63(1), 0 114 K90(2), 0 111 K58(1) were detected in 7 of 58 Escherichia coli isolates and 51 strains were untypable. Three strains produced heat stable (ST) enterotoxin and belonged to the enteropathogenic serotype. The antibiotic resistance patterns of coliform strains are presented.

The incidence of diarrhoeagenic Escherichia coli was investigated in 304 infants with diarrhoea in Mosul, Iraq by using standard biological assays and reversed passive latex agglutination (RPLA) procedures. Enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC) were found in 12.8% of the cases--27 (8.8%) strains produced heat-labile toxin (LT) only, 8 (2.6%) heat-stable toxin (ST) only and 4 (1.3%) produced both toxins (LT-ST)--whereas enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC) were responsible for about 13.8% of the incidence of diarrhoea in the community. Detailed analysis revealed that 12 serotypes were involved. A greater number of cases of acute enteritis were seen in infants aged 0-18 months than in those aged between 19 and 36 months. The data indicate a highly significant level of resistance to most common antimicrobial drugs among diarrhoeagenic E. coli isolated, but most were highly sensitive to nalidixic acid, cephalothin and gentamicin.

Of 80 pasturma beef sausages, 28 (35%) contained Salmonella anatum, S. typhimurium or S. molade. Analysis of 70 fresh beef casings yielded 6 (8.6%) samples contaminated with S. anatum; none of the 60 commercial beef casings were found to be contaminated.

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