摘要:This study was carried out between August 2003 and March 2004. One hundred and twenty milk samples were collected from supermarkets in Khartoum State. Sixty milk samples were collected during summer and other 60 during winter from the same supermarkets. The milk samples were examined for microbial quality that include total bacterial count, spore forming bacteria count, coliform count. Enumeration, isolation and identification of E. coli , S. aureus , Salmonella spp. and the presence of Brucella as detected by milk ring test were also estimated. The criteria used for identification of the isolates were reaction to Gram's stain, morphological appearance, cultural characteristics and biochemical tests. Similarly phosphatase test was done. The present study revealed that high average total bacterial count (5.63x109±2.87x1010 cfu mL-1) was found for the raw milk samples. Moreover, during summer the total bacterial count of milk (1.04x1010±4.01x1010 cfu mL-1) was higher than during winter (9x108±2.51x109 cfu mL-1). Staphylococcus aureus was detected in 46.7% of the milk samples with mean count of 4.9x104±1.29x106 cfu mL-1. During summer the mean count was 7.44x105±1.66x106 cfu mL-1, which was higher than the count during winter (1.61x105±2.3x105 cfu mL-1). Escherichia coli were detected in 2.5% of the milk samples with a mean of 6.0x105±7.94x105 cfu mL-1 and coliforms bacteria were detected in 82.5% with a mean of 3.32x106±1.43x107 cfu mL-1. Also during summer the mean was 5.15x106±2x107 cfu mL-1, which was higher than during winter (1.45x106±3x106 cfu mL-1). Spore forming bacteria were detected in 32.5% of the milk samples with a mean of 4.81x106±1.4x107 cfu mL-1. Also during summer the mean was 7.15x106±1.79x107 cfu mL-1, was higher than during winter (1.45x106±3x106 cfu mL-1). There was no Salmonella spp. in any of the milk samples collected during the present study, while milk ring test for Brucella showed that 44.1% of the milk samples were positive for Brucella. Moreover 54.4% of which were detected during winter and 45.61% were found during summer. Also during this study 44.17% of the milk samples were positive to phosphtase test. All the milk samples (100%) were found to be negative to the presence of formalin. Conclusions and recommendations for improvement of hygienic quality of marketed milk in Khartoum State were suggested. Sanitary standards should be established in this country so as to control milk production and marketing. Further studies should be done to evaluate safe and good supply of consumed milk.