In Kazakhstan where Bactrian camel, dromedary camel and their hybrids are cohabiting within same farms, the consumption of camel milk is very popular because its medicinal and dietary properties. This milk is consumed under fermented form, called shubat. Shubat is still very often made on a small scale in the steppe with a fermentation step driven by wild bacteria. Camel milk and shubat were sampled from 4 regions with high number of camel population. As the whole, 26 samples were obtained from 13 selected farms representing the variability of the farming system. Isolated LAB strains were identified by method of a polymorphism determination of 16S ribosome DNA. PCR with using two different pairs of amorces (338f/518r; W001/23S1) was done. Majority of microflora were cocci in a both milk products. Yeast biodiversity in shubat was studied by using denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE). Target DNA bands were identified according to the reference species scoring. Comigrating bands present in the DGGE profiles were resolved by species-specific PCR. The dominant yeasts in both products included Kazakhstania unispora, Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Kluyveromyces marxianus. Frequently isolated yeast species were Dekkera bruxellensis and more rarely Galactomyces geotrichum. The results of microflora identification in these products provide a theoretical foundation for developing starter cultures.

In Kazakhstan, camel breeding mainly occupies areas sometimes close to polluting industries or other sources of pollu- tion as industrial agriculture, mainly cotton. Products issued from camel farms close to these sources as camel raw milk and fermented milk (shubat), wool and meat, traditionally used by humans could be contaminated. We investigated camel raw milk and fermented milk for the content of heavy metals (lead, cadmium, zinc and copper), radionuclide and some organic pollutants (PAHs, pesticides and indicator PCBs) in samples from different regions with a priori high risk of pollution (Atyrau, Kyzylorda, South-Kazakhstan and Almaty region). In the present paper, only some milk samples presented high lead concentration (> 500 ppb). After analysis for organic pollutants, it was observed some traces of hexachlorocyclohexane, lindane, hexanchlorothalonil in milk samples from different regions. One sample was also slightly contaminated with radionuclide. These preliminary results allow establishing a first map of risk for camel farming. As the whole, South-Kazakhstan appeared the most exposed region

The effectiveness of the fermented milk product for decreasing the absorption of Lead (Pb) in vivo by testing several combinations of different strains and individual strains of LAB isolated from camel milk and shubat (fermented camel milk) was determined. During 4 weeks 0.5 ppm of Pb was given to cavies in fermented milk product and water. Control group and groups treated only by fermented milk products, also, were observed. Faeces, Blood, Heart, Lungs, Liver, Kidneys, and Spleen were analyzed. The lead concentrations in faeces of Control group and lead nitrate treated group were nearly the same. The quantity of Pb in faeces of fermented milk treated groups was higher than in Control and Water Pb groups. In the different cavies' organs of Water Pb group, the higher concentration of heavy metal (ppm) was observed in spleen (1.04), heart (0.65), kidneys (0.58), and blood (0.46) to be compared to 0.82, 0.2, 0.58 and 0.31 respectively in control group. In groups treated with fermented milk without/with Pb, the lead concentration decreased in target organs. Quantity of lead in blood samples of Control group and groups treated fermented milk products without/with Pb is nearly same. Highest concentration of blood Pb was observed for Water Pb group.

Shubat and Koumiss are traditional fermented products widely consumed in Kazakhstan and Central Asia. Microflora of those fermented products is composed of bacteria and yeasts, which could have deep impacts on beverages quality. Although, the known presence of yeast in such fermented foods, few studies on yeast microflora of Shubat and Koumiss were available. The aim of the study was to identify the main indigenous yeasts in these traditional beverages and additionally, the differences between these 2 types of fermented products. Five samples of fresh and fermented camel and mare's milk from tank were collected in 5 different farms, located in South of Kazakhstan. Farms were selected because of their importance of production of fermented milk at the regional level and the reputation of these products among the consumers. Yeast biodiversity in Shubat and Koumiss was studied using denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE). Target DNA bands were identified according to the reference species ladder, constructed in this study. Co-migrating bands present in the DGGE profiles were resolved by species-specific PCR. Galactomyces geotrichum, Kluyveromyces marxianus, Kazachstania unispora, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Dekkera anomala, Dekkera bruxellensis yeast were identified. Some yeasts were not identified by used primers. In all samples of Shubat and Koumiss the dominant yeast species were Kazakhstania unispora, Kluyveromyces marxianu. Other species were not present in all samples. (Résumé d'auteur

Environmental contamination by heavy metals is a common fact in Central Asia. In the present study two sampling procedures were achieved: (i) Sampling of fodder, camel raw milk and shubat (fermented camel milk) in 8 farms closed to pollution sources from the South of Kazakhstan for copper, iron, manganese, zinc, arsenic and lead analysis, (ii) sampling of camel milk in 4 regions of Kazakhstan (63 samples) analyzed for lead, chrome and zinc contamination. In first sampling, camel milk contained 0.07 ± 0.04, 1.48 ± 0.53, 0.08 ± 0.03, 5.16 ± 2.17, <0.1 and 0.025 ± 0.02 ppm respectively for Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn, As and Pb. In shubat (fermented milk) the mean content was 0.163 ± 0.164, 1.57 ± 0.46, 0.088 ± 0.02, 7.217 ± 2.55 and 0.007 ppm respectively. Arsenic was detected in some samples of milk and shubat only. The trace elements concentration increase in shubat compared to milk but lead concentration decreased. No clear correlation was observed with fodder composition. In second sampling, the lead content was on average 250 ± 56 ppb in the camel milk with no significant differences between regions. The maximum value was observed at Atyrau (532 ppb). Zinc content in milk (5.42 ± 0.2 ppm) did not change significantly between regions. In reverse, chrome (59.5 ± 45.4 ppb) was higher in Shymkent region compared to others. These values were discussed according to the proximity of pollution sources. Specially, higher concentrations were experienced in fodder from pastures close to some industrial sites or high traffic road.