ABSTRACT

A total number of ten (10) locally fermented milk (nono) samples were collected from five (5) different retail outlet namely: Gombe main market, Jekadafari,Pantami, TashanDukku, and Tumfure. Bacteriological analysis was carried out on the samples for isolation and identification of bacteria associated with such products as well as total aerobic plate count. Seven (7) specie of bacteria which are of public health importance were isolated and identified. The percentage of occurrences of bacteria isolates was highest for E.coli with 22%, Staph aureus with 21%, 13% for CitrobacterFruendii, Entrobactersp and Salmonellatyphi, and 9% for bothshigella species and Bacillus species.Also the mean aerobic plate count (cfu/mL) for the fermented milk samples was 17.4× 102 , 13.0×102, 17.3×102, 14.9×102 and 15.9×102 for Gombe main market, Jekadafari, Tumfure, TashanDukku and pantami retail outlet respectively. The producers of the locally fermented milk (nono) must ensure effective pasteurization of their products and employ good personal hygiene to eliminate or reduce the bacteria load of the nono especially the pathogenic microorganisms. The entropathogenic bacteria isolated from milk products may cause food borne disease or infection.These organisms are significant from public health point of view as they have been associated with food poisoning in human being.