Della Della

Project Title: Early detection and risk assessment of bovine subclinical mastitis related microorganisms and their potential survival during infant milk formula processing

Overview: In early 2022, the use of antibiotics in dairy production as a blanket dry cow therapy to control mastitis will be banned. This change may however increase the risk of microorganisms related to sub-clinical mastitis entering the milk chain. This project will look at the presence of mastitis pathogens and quality indicators in raw milk produced from different farm management practices and the raw milk will be assessed for these microbes survival in dairy processing. To quantify and mitigate these risk systems for early detection and quantification of subclinical related microbes will including S. aureus, S. uberus, Streptococcus and Listeria spp. in raw milk and prediction of their survival potential will be quantified. This will benefit both safety and quality control management in dairy processing and production. This project will be carried out in collaboration with Irish dairy producers and processors.

Della Della works at the Division of Food Safety, TEAGASC - The Agriculture and Food Development Authority and the Technological University of Dublin. Della does research in Food Safety, Microbiology, and Molecular Biology. Her current projects focus on early detection and risk assessment of bovine sub-clinical mastitis-related microorganisms and their survival in dairy processing. This project aims to quantify and mitigate mastitis-related microorganisms in the dairy chain. Della is an expert in the application of molecular methods to food safety and currently gaining experience in the detection of mastitis related microorganisms using PCR. Della is originally from Indonesia and she holds an MSc in Food Safety and Risk Management and a BSc in Biotechnology from University of Parma. When Della is not studying, she likes to cook.

Programme Area: Food Safety

Supervisors: Dr Triona O'Brien, and Dr Uma Tiwari

Location: Teagasc Moorepark, Fermoy, Co. Cork

Funding Source: Teagasc