Antibacterial activity of the lactoperoxidase system against food-borne pathogens in Saanen and South African Indigenous goat milk

The effect of the lactoperoxidase (LP) system on the growth and survival of Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria monocytogenes and Brucella melitensis was determined in goat milk samples kept at 30 °C for 6 h. The LP system exhibited a bactericidal effect against L. monocytogenes and Br. melitensis both in Saanen and Indigenous goat milks. The LP system was bactericidal against S. aureus in Saanen goat milk and bacteriostatic against S. aureus in Indigenous goat milk. However, the LP system was bacteriostatic against E. coli both in Saanen and Indigenous goat milks. The results of this study suggest the potential of the LP system to control the growth of food-borne pathogens in goat milk.