Identification and characterization of Klebsiellae isolated from milk and milk products in Jordan Original Research Article

Six hundred and forty-nine milk, ice-cream, cheese and jameed samples were examined bacteriologically. A total of 346 Klebsiella isolates were isolated. Klebsiella pneumoniae, Klebsiella oxytoca and Klebsiella rhinoscleromatis were identified in 63 (9.7%), 31 (4.7%) and 28 (4.3%) isolates, respectively. Bacteriocin production was determined in nine isolates (2.6%) and two of these exhibited 62 and 52 inhibitory repetitions. The overall inhibitor repetitions of the Klebsiellae isolated from these dairy sorts were 94, 65, 66 and 14, respectively. Serum resistance was determined in 103 (29.7%) isolates and siderophore production in 96 (27.7%) isolates. Nineteen (5.5%) K. pneumoniae isolates exhibited haemolytic activity, produced siderophore and were resistant to the cidal effect of the serum whereas 15 of these isolates were sensitive to the inhibitory effect of two bacteriocin producers. Milk and its products represent potential hazardous sources of virulent Klebsiellae.