Comparison of ATP Bioluminescence and Microbiological Culturing to Estimate Bacterial Levels in Milking Parlor Environments

摘要

Mastitis caused by environmental pathogens such as the coliform bacteria and environmental streptococci is increasingly important on today's dairy farms. Environmental hygiene is critical to control mastitis due to these organisms. Adenosine Tri-Phosphate (ATP) is used by cellular organisms as a source of usable energy. Measurement of ATP involves use of the enzyme luciferase, which breaks down ATP and produces light, quantified as Relative Light Units (RLU) (Hygenia 2014). One device (SystemSURE Plus meter, Hygenia) has been used in hospitals and the meat processing industry. The hypothesis was that ATPase monitoring will be useful in estimating bacteria in samples from the milking parlor environment.