A milk-line sampling system to detect foodborne pathogens: A field case investigation from the United States and Argentina.

The objective of this short communication was to discuss two field case investigations to determine the usefulness of a milk-line sampling device to detect bacteria either coming from a group of cows suffering from mastitis or from the milking line potentially contaminated with environmental bacteria. In Case 1, the in-line sampling device was able to detect certain segments of the milk-line contaminated with environmental bacteria, but not coming from the cows. In Case 2, 19 out of 25 pooled in-line samples were in agreement with at least one of the individual sampled cows shedding either Staphylococcus or Streptococcus spp.