BIOCHEMICAL AND MOLECULAR IDENTIFICATION OF LACTIC ACID BACTERIA ISOLATED FROM CAMEL MILK IN TUNISIA

Imen Fguiri; Manel Ziadi; Moufida Atigui; Samira Arroum; Touhami Khorchani

doi:10.9755/ejfa.2015.04.114

Authors

Imen Fguiri Laboratory of Livestock and Wild life Institute of Arid lands (IRA Medenine), 4119, Médenine, Tunisia, University of Gabes;
Manel Ziadi Laboratory of Livestock and Wild life Institute of Arid lands (IRA Medenine), 4119, Médenine, Tunisia, University of Gabes;
Moufida Atigui Laboratory of Microbial Technology and Ecology (LETMi), National Institute of Applied Sciences and Technology (INSAT), BP 876, 1080 Tunis, Tunisia
Samira Arroum Laboratory of Livestock and Wild life Institute of Arid lands (IRA Medenine), 4119, Médenine, Tunisia, University of Gabes;
Touhami Khorchani Laboratory of Livestock and Wild life Institute of Arid lands (IRA Medenine), 4119, Médenine, Tunisia, University of Gabes;

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.9755/ejfa.2015.04.114

Keywords:

Biochemical identification, Molecular identification, Lactic acid bacteria;

Abstract

This study aimed to compare biochemical vs. molecular methods for identification of Lactic Acid Bacteria (LAB) isolated from camel milk. Ten strains among 62 LAB isolates were chosen for identification using API50CHL and 16S rDNA sequencing. Only Gram-positive and catalase-negative isolates were considered. Citrate utilization, in the presence of carbohydrates, was studied. These strains were tested from the growth in NaCl (4, 6.5%), growth at different temperature (10-45°C) and growth at different pH values (4.2, 9.6). Results indicated that ten (10) strains were identified as: Lactococcus lactis, Lactobacillus pentosus, Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus brevis and Pediococcus pentosaceus by using biochemical method. However by molecular methods, all strains were identified as Enterococcus faecium. It was, thereby, concluded that each technique had its limitations but the molecular analysis is the most reliable.