Effects of Temperature and Storage Time on the Phagocytic Activity of Leucocytes of Milk

Abstract
Previous findings that leucocytes are quite effective in reducing raw milk bac- terial counts were verified. Phagocytosis occurred at a faster rate as incubation tem- peratures were ~ncreased to 21 C. There- fore, slow cooling o£ milk containing high numbers o£ leucocytes will likely result in large reductions of bacterial counts. Leucocytes of milk retain their phago- cytic activity for about 24 hr at tempera- tures up to 10 C. However, as either time or temperature of storage is increased, ac- tivity decreases rapidly. Freezing inacti- vates leucocytes. Pasteurization causes disruption of a large percentage o£ leucocytes. Heat quickly impairs their phagocytic ability.

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