Assessment of antibacterial activity of donkey milk lysozyme. Safety and hygiene issues

作者：Conte F^*; Foti M; Malvisi M; Giacopello C; Piccinini R

来源：Large Animal Review, 2012, 18(1): 13-16.

• Donkey milk
• lysozyme
• antibacterial activity
• food security

Donkey milk contains as much lysozyme (LZ) as equine milk (6000 times higher than bovine milk). LZ shows antibacterial activity against Gram-positive and some Gram-negative bacteria. LZ activity in donkey milk is very high and some authors supposed that donkey resistance to mammary infection is probably due to high amount of LZ. %26lt;br%26gt;There is scarce literature on this topic; the aim of the present study is thus to evaluate the antibacterial activity of 3 different donkey bulk milk (DBM) samples, on a total of 42 bacterial strains. The microorganisms were isolated from donkey and bovine milk. Lysozyme activity was evaluated by EnzCheck Lysozyme Assay Kit; the milk antibacterial activity was tested by Minimal Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) method, in microtiter plates. The first milk sample inhibited only one Pseudomonas sp strain (MIC of LZ = 5800 U/ml); the second sample had no antibacterial effect (MIC %26gt; 2740 U/ml), whereas the third sample prevented the growth of 50% of Staphylococcus aureus strains from DBM (MIC = 3400 U/ml). LZ showed no activity against bovine strains. Finally, the authors underline the importance of further studies for a deeper understanding of LZ antimicrobial activity, both for veterinary health purposes and to protect a vulnerable group of consumers, such as infants affected by intolerance to some milk proteins.

• 出版日期2012-2