Aproveito este espaço para contar um pouco da minha trajetória com as abelhas, mas também para falar sobre as atividades desenvolvidas e possibilidades surgidas no decorrer do curso de Doutorado, informações estas que normalmente passam despercebidas. Nascido em Salvador, tive meu primeiro contato com as abelhas com pouco mais de 12 anos por iniciativa de meu pai, que nesta época já era um entusiasta pela atividade e possuía conhecimentos práticos. Alguns anos após, fizemos nosso primeiro curso de iniciação em apicultura para consolidar as nossas experiências práticas e as informações obtidas em literatura. Terminei por cursar a graduação em Engenharia Agronômica na Escola de Agronomia da UFBA, atualmente Centro de Ciências Agrárias, Ambientais e Biológicas da Universidade Federal do Recôncavo da Bahia. Foi um período de crescimento em que me envolvi com atividades de iniciação científica, em outras áreas que não apicultura. Já no mestrado, me foi dada a oportunidade de trabalhar com um grupo de abelhas até então novo para mim, os meliponíneos, e de ter como orientador o Prof. Dr. Carlos Alfredo Carvalho, pessoa que me direcionou para o futuro curso de doutorado na USP, dando continuidade à linha de pesquisa iniciada no mestrado. Em 2004 iniciei o meu doutoramento na ESALQ/USP sob orientação do Prof. Dr. Luis Carlos Marchini. Fazendo um balanço desta última etapa, além do desenvolvimento das atividades regulares do programa tive a oportunidade de me envolver com a formulação de projetos de pesquisa para agências de fomento, de participar de eventos nacionais e internacionais, de publicar artigos científicos e de consolidar parcerias de trabalho no Brasil e no exterior. Em síntese, este período de doutorado que se encerra (2004 - 2008) pode ser representado em números por: quatro cursos realizados como formação complementar, quatro premiações em eventos científicos, nove trabalhos publicados em periódicos (alguns submetidos antes de ingressar no doutorado), quatro livros, três capítulos de livros, três cartilhas, dois textos em revista de divulgação, quatro trabalhos completos publicados em anais de congressos, 40 resumos, 17 trabalhos apresentados e participação em 12 eventos técnico-científicos; além do envolvimento em atividades de monitoria junto a disciplinas de graduação, treinamento este fundamental para uma futura atividade de docência. Acredito que todas estas amizades feitas, parcerias consolidadas, atividades desenvolvidas e produções decorrentes do doutorado contribuirão de forma substancial e decisiva para esta nova etapa que se inicia em minha vida. / The stingless bees honey is a product presenting a growing market demand but, in spite of its consumption as food and even medicinal use, there are few studies to define quality standards for its commercialization. This work was carried out to determine the physico-chemical characteristics and microbiological quality of honey samples produced by meliponid species from Bahia State, Brazil, contributing to the establishment of quality control standards of this product. Forty-seven samples collected from December 2004 to May 2006 were analyzed, being determined their physico-chemical characteristics and microbiological quality, regarding to the standard counting of moulds and yeasts, and presence of microorganisms of the coliform group. Concerning the physico-chemical characteristics, the obtained medium values, excepting moisture content, fulfill the quality criteria established by the current Brazilian Legislation. Considering the number of samples individually disqualified, adjustments in reducing sugars limits should be made for best attend to the requirements of meliponid honey, as well as the use of the diastasic activity in the Melipona honeys as quality criterion. In the microbiologic analyses, 53.2% of the honey samples presented standard counting for moulds and yeasts above the maximum value allowed by the Brazilian Legislation. For microorganisms of the coliform group only one sample was positive for coliform at 35ºC. The presence of these microorganisms, mainly moulds and yeasts, even in samples aseptically harvested indicates the need of identification of this microbiota and its possible natural occurrence in the honey produced by this group of bees.

Ambient and recreational surface waters worldwide experience fecal pollution due to a variety of anthropogenic sources. Fecal waste has been proven, for over a century, to harbor pathogenic microorganisms which subsequently cause a variety of disease and illness in human hosts. The benefits of utilizing fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) as a simple, inexpensive means to detect fitful human pathogens within a variety of water matrices are vast. However, no universal agreement exists in regard to which indicator is best suited for detection of fecal contamination and pathogens in environmental waters, and no single standard for bacterial indicators has been federally mandated. This study sought to explore the potential benefits of a multiple-indicator approach to water quality analysis of fresh and brackish surface waters. The distribution and fluctuation of two frequently used, EPA approved groups of FIB – fecal coliform and Enterococcus – were explored, and relationships between the two FIB groups were examined in fresh and brackish surface waters of Central and South Florida. Samples were collected over a period of 12 consecutive months, spanning April 2015 through March 2016, and analyzed using membrane filtration procedures outlined in Standard Methods 9222D and EPA method 1600. Raw and log transformed colony forming unit (CFU) data, per 100 mL, was analyzed annually and seasonally through linear regression, Spearman correlation, and exploratory data analysis techniques performed in R-Studio. The results of this study showed a moderate to strong relationship between fecal coliform and Enterococcus under both fresh and brackish conditions. The presence of a positive, linear relationship between fecal coliform and Enterococcus in both fresh and brackish water was apparent in both seasonal and annual regression analysis; upward and downward fluctuation(s) in one variable was shown to predict similar fluctuation(s) in the other year-round. However, while fecal coliform and Enterococcus showed moderate to strong correlations, causation was not implied. Low R2 values showed that the FIB groups were not dependent upon one another in any case, either annually or seasonally. The results of this study challenge previously accepted views of fecal coliform and Enterococcus effectiveness as ideal fresh and brackish water FIB, their suitability as sole indicators of fecal pollution, and their ideal usage as indicators for waters of varying salinities; results support those previously seen in studies such as Hanes and Fragala 1967, which emphasize the need for a multiple indicator approach to water quality analysis of ambient and recreational waters experiencing brackish conditions.

In recent decades the quality and safety of bottled water has come into question, while bottled water sales and demand have steadily grown. It is important that consumers as well as manufacturers are made aware of the microbial environment of bottled water. Many studies have been implemented to evaluate the microbiological content of bottled water. Although some laboratory studies have shown that microbial counts of bottled water can reach as high as 16^3 CFU/mL, few studies, if any, have studied the impact of storage location on bottled water microbial activity. This document reports on an investigation that evaluated the microbiological quality of bottled water relative to storage conditions and storage duration. Unlike previous studies that evaluated bottled water having been stored under the laboratory conditions, the work conducted in this study evaluated storage scenarios that included a car trunk, covered porch, indoor cabinet and refrigerator. These storage conditions allow for comparison of prior studies conducted in the laboratory to more realistic storage coniditions used by consumers. Analyses of bottled water under these alternative storage conditions indicated that microbial growth did occur in stored water and varied between lcoation and holding time. It was determined that heterotrophic plate counts (HPCs) were greater in warmer storage environments as was exhibited by the refrigerated and indoor locations. Additionally, mathematical models were developed in this work that predicted the microbial growth rate in bottled water as a function of holding time, using commonly available statistical software that evaluated data predicted using an exponential model (R2 correlation of up to 0.84) for two different storage conditions. Although increased levels of HPC bacteria are generally safe for those in good health, they are used as an indicator test for microbial quality. Furthermore, higher levels of HPC have also been shown to pose some additional health risks to immunocomprimised individuals. Therefore, results from the study would indicate that it may be beneficial for consumers to store their bottled water indoors or in a refrigerator.

No description available.

To propose a methodology for the uncertainty estimation in water quality modeling as related to TMDL development, four Monte Carlo (MC) based techniques—single-phase MC, two-phase MC, Generalized Likelihood Uncertainty Estimation (GLUE), and Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) —were applied to a Hydrological Simulation Program–FORTRAN (HSPF) model developed for the Mossy Creek bacterial TMDL in Virginia. Predictive uncertainty in percent violations of instantaneous fecal coliform concentration criteria for the prediction period under two TMDL pollutant allocation scenarios was estimated. The average percent violations of the applicable water quality criteria were less than 2% for all the evaluated techniques. Single-phase MC reported greater uncertainty in percent violations than the two-phase MC for one of the allocation scenarios. With the two-phase MC, it is computationally expensive to sample the complete parameter space, and with increased simulations, the estimates of single and two-phase MC may be similar. Two-phase MC reported significantly greater effect of knowledge uncertainty than stochastic variability on uncertainty estimates. Single and two-phase MC require manual model calibration as opposed to GLUE and MCMC that provide a framework to obtain posterior or calibrated parameter distributions based on a comparison between observed and simulated data and prior parameter distributions. Uncertainty estimates using GLUE and MCMC were similar when GLUE was applied following the log-transformation of observed and simulated FC concentrations. GLUE provides flexibility in selecting any model goodness of fit criteria for calculating the likelihood function and does not make any assumption about the distribution of residuals, but this flexibility is also a controversial aspect of GLUE. MCMC has a robust formulation that utilizes a statistical likelihood function, and requires normal distribution of model errors. However, MCMC is computationally expensive to apply in a watershed modeling application compared to GLUE. Overall, GLUE is the preferred approach among all the evaluated uncertainty estimation techniques, for the application of watershed modeling as related to bacterial TMDL development. However, the application of GLUE in watershed-scale water quality modeling requires further research to evaluate the effect of different likelihood functions, and different parameter set acceptance/rejection criteria. / Ph. D.

There are rural residents of Central Appalachia that collect their drinking water from roadside springs despite having access to in-home piped point-of-use (POU) water. Residents have cited perceptions about water availability/quality as primary motivators for collecting drinking water from roadside springs. Water from roadside springs has been found to contain total coliform and E. coli, suggesting that consumers may be at an increased risk of contracting gastrointestinal illnesses. This research effort seeks to better understand roadside spring usage in Central Appalachia, by exploring motivations influencing potable water source selection and comparing household and spring water quality to Safe Drinking Water Act recommendations. Households were recruited from communities surrounding springs in three states (Kentucky, Virginia, and West Virginia). 24 tap water samples were collected from participating households and paired with samples from six roadside springs. Samples were analyzed for fecal indicator bacteria and inorganic ions. Study participants also completed short surveys to inventory their perceptions of their household drinking water. The majority of participants did not trust their home tap water, indicating water aesthetics as primary motivators for distrust of their homer water source. Statistical comparisons indicated that 10 water quality constituents (Cd, F, NO3-, Cu, Pb, Ag, Mn, Zn, Na, and Sr) were significantly higher in tap water samples and four constituents (total coliform, U, Al, and SO2-4) were significantly higher in spring samples. These results suggest that residents might be exposed to different risks based on their drinking water source and that water quality solutions must be devised case-by-case. / Master of Science / Some rural residents of Central Appalachia collect their drinking water from roadside springs, despite having access to piped drinking water at their homes. Water collected from roadside springs can contain harmful bacteria, suggesting that people may risk exposure to illness when consuming spring water. Through a household water quality study, this research effort aims to compare roadside spring and in-home tap water quality in order to determine what contaminants are present at each source, and why residents are choosing spring water over tap water. Households were recruited from communities surrounding roadside springs in three states (Kentucky, Virginia, and West Virginia). A total of 24 tap water samples were collected from participating households, and compared with samples from six nearby roadside springs. Samples were analyzed for bacteria, metals, and nutrients. Study participants were also asked to complete short surveys to better understand their perceptions of their drinking water sources. The majority of participants did not trust their home tap water, citing aesthetic concerns as the primary reason behind their distrust. When comparing roadside spring and home samples, 10 contaminants (Cd, F, NO3-, Cu, Pb, Ag, Mn, Zn, Na, and Sr) had greater concentrations in home tap water samples and four (total coliform, U, Al, and SO2- 4) had greater concentrations in spring samples. While home water samples had higher levels of metals, roadside spring samples had higher levels of bacteria, suggesting that residents might be exposed to different risks based on water source and that water quality solutions must be developed case-by-case.

The quality of marine bathing water is currently assessed by monitoring the levels of faecal indicator bacteria. Among other drawbacks, results are retrospective using the traditional culture based methods. A rapid method is thus needed as an early warning to bathers for bacterial contamination in marine bathing waters. Total lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was chosen here as a potential general biomarker for bacterial contamination. Levels of total LPS, measured using a Kinetic QCL™ Limulus Amebocyte Lysate (LAL) assay, highly correlated with enumerated Escherichia coli and Bacteroides species. Levels of LPS in excess of 50 EU mL-1 were found to equate with water that was unsuitable for bathing under the current European Union regulations. Results showed that monitoring the levels of total LPS has a potential applicability as a rapid method for screening the quality of marine bathing water. More importantly, the LAL assay overcome the retrospective results when using culture based assessment since the LAL assay takes less than 30 minutes. Although false positive events were not detected, the occurrence of a false positive has been hypothesised, hence a more specific faecal biomarker was also investigated. LPS of five Bacteroides species (B. fragilis, B. caccae, B. ovatus, B. xylanisolvens and B. finegoldii) isolated from marine bathing waters samples were successfully profiled and showed high similarity between isolates in LPS gel electrophoresis banding pattern. Similar results were shown when investigating the endotoxic activity of Bacteroides species with the Kinetic QCL™ LAL assay. The potential biological relevance of Bacteroides LPS was also investigated in cell culture models indicating that Bacteroides showed similar induction of proinflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1α) and generally the biological activity was approximately 100 fold less than E. coli LPS. In addition, an ELISA assay was designed for the detection of Bacteroides LPS. Results showed that the Bacteroides LPS has a high potential to be used as a faecal biomarker, however, further work is required to develop a fully functional assay. The potential biological relevance of LPS present in contaminated bathing waters was also investigated in cell culture models. Results showed that there is a significant difference in the production of proinflammatory cytokines in comparison to “clean” bathing waters. Thus, results suggest that the European Directive regulations should be extended to cover the levels of total LPS in bathing waters to assure safety to the users of marine recreational water.

Submitted by Johnny Rodrigues (johnnyrodrigues@ufcg.edu.br) on 2018-03-23T20:01:22Z No. of bitstreams: 1 JULYANNA DAMASCENO PESSOA - DISSERTAÇÃO PPGEQ 2015..pdf: 3056060 bytes, checksum: f1c90789fd3af9574cb10fbc1d69a075 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-03-23T20:01:22Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 JULYANNA DAMASCENO PESSOA - DISSERTAÇÃO PPGEQ 2015..pdf: 3056060 bytes, checksum: f1c90789fd3af9574cb10fbc1d69a075 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-12-15 / Em decorrência da degradação dos recursos hídricos e da crescente preocupação com microrganismos específicos na água, a utilização de membranas cerâmicas para separação de materiais contaminantes, passa a ser uma opção de tratamento para a produção de água potável, devido a motivos como, por exemplo, sua resistência ao ataque de produtos químicos, requerer uma menor área de construção do equipamento, maior economia de energia, dentre outros. O presente trabalho objetivou estudar o desempenho de um sistema híbrido, composto por membrana cerâmica tubular de microfiltração, recheadas por resinas trocadoras iônicas, para tratamento de água de qualidade inferior. As membranas utilizadas nesse trabalho são do tipo α-alumina (α-Al2O3), tamanho nominal de poro de aproximadamente 0,8 µm, produzidas pelo Laboratório de Membranas Cerâmicas (LABCEM) do Laboratório de Referência em Dessalinização (LABDES) na Universidade Federal de Campina Grande (UFCG). O sistema foi avaliado em função do fluxo e vazão do permeado, nas pressões de operação 0,5; 1,0; 2,0 e 3,0 bar; teste de presença / ausência e contagem bacteriológicas na água da alimentação e permeado para o sistema: membrana cerâmica; análises físicoquímicas realizadas para o sistema: membrana cerâmica/ RTI; e tempo de residência hidráulica ( ), nas pressões de operação 1,0; 2,0 e 3,0 bar. A membrana cerâmica removeu completamente os Coliformes totais e fecais (Escherichia coli) da água. O comportamento do fluxo do permeado variou com a pressão de operação. No sistema híbrido: membrana cerâmica/ RTI, o tempo de residência foi de 15,55 segundos na pressão de operação 1,0 bar, removendo 71,9% dos íons da água de alimentação, para 66% na pressão 2,0 bar ( =11,73 segundos) e 61% na de 3,0 bar ( = 10,11 segundos). O sistema híbrido mostrou-se eficiente na remoção dos parâmetros físico-químicos e produziu água tratada de boa qualidade quanto aos parâmetros bacteriológicos nas águas de qualidade inferior, com baixo consumo energético. / Due to the degradation of water resources and the increasing concern about specific microorganisms in water, the use of ceramic membranes for separation of contaminating materials, becomes a treatment option for the production of drinking water, due to reasons such as its resistance to chemicals, requires a smaller area of equipment construction, greater energy savings, among others. This study investigated the performance of a hybrid system consisting of a tubular microfiltration ceramic membrane, filled with ion exchange resins for substandard water treatment. The membranes used in this work are the α-alumina type (α-Al2O3), with pores which have a nominal diameter of about 0.8 microns produced by Laboratório de Membranas Cerâmicas (LABCEM), at Desalination in Reference Laboratory (LABDES) at the Federal University of Campina Grande (UFCG). The system was evaluated by the flow and permeate flow, the operating pressure 0.5; 1.0; 2.0 and 3.0 bar; presence / absence and bacteriological count tests in the feed and permeate water for the system: ceramic membrane; Physical and chemical analysis for the system: ceramic membrane / RTI; and hydraulic residence time (τ), at the operating pressures of 1.0; 2.0 and 3.0 bar. The ceramic membrane completely removed the Total and fecal (Escherichia coli) Coliform of the water. The permeate flux behavior varied with the operating pressure. In the hybrid system: ceramic membrane / RTI residence time was 15.55 seconds at the operating pressure of 1.0 bar by removing 71.9% of the feed water ions, to 66% at 2.0 bar pressure ( = 11.73 seconds), and 61% for the 3.0 bar ( = 10.11 seconds). The hybrid system was efficient in the removal of physical and chemical parameters and produced good quality treated water as for the bacteriological parameters in lower quality water with low power consumption.

Os esgotos domésticos contêm uma alta quantidade de bactérias e outros organismos patogênicos e não patogênicos que são descarregados em corpos hídricos. A contaminação da água, pela presença de bactérias e vírus patogênicos, traz conseqüências indesejáveis, principalmente de saúde pública. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a possibilidade de emprego da análise de colifagos, como indicador viral. Para isso, amostras de esgoto bruto, efluente tratado por reator UASB e efluente de lodo ativado, da Estação de Tratamento de Esgotos São João Navegantes, Porto Alegre, foram coletadas durante o período de junho/2006 a junho/2007. As análises físicas, químicas e microbiológicas, DBO5, turbidez, sólidos totais, quantificação de coliformes totais, fecais e de colifagos foram realizadas em 99 amostras, conforme APHA, 2005. Na determinação da presença de adenovírus e enterovírus foram testadas 36 amostras, utilizando-se a técnica de concentração por filtração-eluição e ultracentrifugação. Posteriormente, purificação e avaliação da infectividade. Por fim, as amostras foram submetidas a teste de nested PCR e RT-PCR, a fim de verificar a presença de adenovírus e enterovírus, respectivamente. Nas 36 amostras testadas, a presença de enterovírus foi confirmada em apenas 5,56% das amostras e, adenovírus, em 16,67% das amostras. Não foram encontradas correlações significativas entre colifagos e bactérias coliformes totais e fecais, bem como entre colifagos e os parâmetros físicos e químicos. Desta independência encontrada entre vírus e bactérias se destaca a necessidade de monitoramento conjunto de ambos os microrganismos. Verificou-se uma similaridade em relação à sazonalidade referente ao comportamento de colifagos e o descrito na literatura referente a vírus entéricos. Observou-se, também, a baixa eficiência do tratamento para remoção de microrganismos, ressaltando-se a importância de realização de um tratamento terciário para assegurar a qualidade microbiológica do efluente. As relações entre colifagos e vírus entéricos não foram possíveis de serem analisadas, devido aos dados inconclusivos obtidos no presente trabalho. / Domestic sewage contains a high amount of bacteria and other pathogens and non pathogens that are discharged into water bodies. Contamination of water by the presence of pathogenic bacteria and viruses, brings undesirable consequences, especially for public health. The objective of this work was to evaluate the possibility of using analysis of coliphages as viral indicator. Samples of raw sewage, treated effluent by UASB reactor and by activated sludge, from Wastewater Treatment Systems São João Navegantes, Porto Alegre, were collected during the period of june/2006 to june/2007. Physical, chemical and microbiological analyzes, namely BOD5, turbidity, total solids, quantification of total coliforms, fecal coliforms and coliphages were performed in 99 samples, following the techniques described in APHA 2005. The presence of enteric viruses was tested on 36 samples. The technique of concentration by filtration-elution and ultra-centrifugation was used for this purpose. Subsequently, purification and infectivity test was performed. The samples were tested to nested PCR and RT-PCR to verify the presence of adenovirus and enterovirus, respectively. In 36 samples tested, the presence of enteroviruses was confirmed in only 5.56% of the samples, and adenovirus, in 16.67% of the samples. No significant correlation was found among coliform bacteria and coliphages, and also between the presence of coliphages and physical and chemical parameters. The independence found between viruses and bacteria indicates the need for joint monitoring of both microrganisms. The behavior of coliphages was observed to follow the path described in the literature about enteric viruses in relation to seasonality. There was observed a low efficiency in terms of microorganisms removal, emphasizing the need for a tertiary treatment to ensure the microbiological quality of the effluents tested. Relations between coliphages and enteric viruses were not able to be analyzed, due to inconclusive data obtained in this work.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-12-08T16:24:13Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 PGCA13MA102.pdf: 258664 bytes, checksum: d3d029859f1ae232cdc1f3a89a0983b3 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013-02-22 / The handmade serrano cheese of Santa Catarina is a typical product made on small farms in the Serrana Region Catarinense. Its main feature is to be manufactured from raw milk without suffering any heat treatment in order to eliminate pathogenic microorganisms that may be present. This fact has major implications, especially for the public health risk that product cause foodborne illness. Current law allows handmade cheeses from raw milk to be aged for a period less than 60 days, however, but also declares the need for technical-scientific studies to prove the best time of maturation, to ensure the quality and safety of the product. The present study aimed to realize the isolation and identification of Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella sp. and isolating and quantifying Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and total coliforms and relate the maturation time with contamination of handmade cheeses, thus verifying the best time of maturation to make a product that is safe for consumers. The experiment was conducted using 108 samples of handmade serranos cheese from various cities in the mountainous region of SC, with maturity periods of between 14, 28, 42 and 63 days. In Animal Microbiological Diagnostic Center - CEDIMA were performed the following analyzes: isolation of Listeria monocytogenes using the method USDA/2009 and of Salmonella sp. methodology according to ISO 6579/2007. The bacteria identified as Listeria monocytogenes were sent for serotyping the Instituto Oswaldo Cruz Foundation. The enumeration of Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Total Coliform was performed on petrifilm plates. The sanitary quality of the cheeses analyzed was unsatisfactory, because the presence of Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and total coliform was found above the levels permitted by law, indicating deficiency in hygiene procedures during manufacture of the product. Salmonella sp. not detected in any sample, but, the presence of Listeria monocytogenes makes cheese unfit for human consumption, as it offers potential risk to consumer health .The maturing period up to 60 days did not affect the isolation of the microorganisms statistically analyzed / O queijo artesanal serrano de Santa Catarina é um produto típico produzido em pequenas propriedades rurais na Serrana Catarinense. Sua principal característica é ser fabricado a partir do leite cru, sem sofrer nenhum tratamento térmico que elimine os microrganismos patogênicos que podem estar presente. Este fato traz grandes implicações, principalmente, para saúde pública pelo risco desse produto causar doenças transmitidas por alimentos. A legislação vigente permite que queijos artesanais elaborados a partir de leite cru sejam maturados por um período inferior a 60 dias, porém, declara a necessidade de estudos técnico-científicos a fim de comprovarem a melhor época de maturação, para que se possa garantir a qualidade e a inocuidade do produto. O presente estudo teve por objetivo realizar o isolamento e a identificação de Listeria monocytogenes e Salmonella sp. e o isolamento e quantificação de Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli e coliformes totais e relacionar o tempo de maturação com a contaminação dos queijos artesanais, verificando assim, a melhor época de maturação para comercializar um produto que seja seguro ao consumidor. O experimento foi conduzido utilizando 108 amostras de queijo artesanais serranos provenientes de várias cidades da Região Serrana de SC, com períodos de maturação entre 14, 28, 42 e 63 dias. No Centro de Diagnóstico Microbiológico Animal - CEDIMA foram realizadas as seguintes análises: pesquisa de Listeria monocytogenes segundo o método USDA/2009 e isolamento de Salmonella sp. segundo a metodologia ISO 6579/2007. As bactérias identificadas como Listeria monocytogenes foram enviadas para sorotipificação na Fundação Instituto Oswaldo Cruz. A contagem de Staphylococcus aureus, Coliformes Totais e Escherichia coli foi realizada em placas de petrifilm . A qualidade higiênicosanitária dos queijos analisados foi insatisfatória, pois a presença de Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli e coliformes totais encontrou-se acima dos valores permitidos pela legislação, indicando deficiência nos procedimentos de higiene durante a fabricação do produto. A Salmonella sp. não detectada em nenhuma das amostras, porém, a presença de Listeria monocytogenes torna o queijo impróprio para o consumo humano, uma vez que oferece risco potencial a saúde do consumidor. O período até 60 dias maturação não influenciou estatisticamente no isolamento dos microrganismos analisados