”Pirot`s kachkaval” is a traditional cheese produced only on the territory of Pirot
municipality. It belongs to the pasta filata cheeses and can be made of cow`s, ewe`s or the
mixture of these milks.
In order to determine the changes in the lactic acid bacteria microbiota during 60 days
of the ripening of the ”Pirot`s kachkaval” 5 samples of cow`s milk kachkaval and 5 samples
of ewe`s milk kachkaval were analyzed. A total number of 315 LAB strains were isolated and
subjected to physiology tests and FTIR analysis for preliminary characterization and
grouping. Representatives of each group were identified by the use of molecular methods.
Same strains were subjected to technological characterization. Additionally, samples of the
kachkaval up to 30 days of ripening were investigated for the concentration of organic acids
and volatile compounds.
The lactic acid bacteria strains isolated from ewe`s milk kachkaval belong to the
species Streptococcus macedonicus, Enterococcus faecium, Pediococ...cus acidilactici,
Pediococcus pentosaceus, Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus fermentum, Lactobacillus
casei/ rhamnosus, Lactobacillus casei and Lactobacillus paracasei, while strains isolated
from cow`s milk kachkaval belong to the species Enterococcus faecium, Pediococcus
acidilactici, Pediococcus pentosaceus, Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus rhamnosus
and Lactobacillus casei. The presence of lactic (in the highest concentration), malic, citric
and acetic acid was confirmed. Also, pyruvic acid was detected in traces. Volatile compounds
detected in the samples of kachkaval belonged to monocarboxylic acids, alcohols, ketones,
aldehydes, terpenes and hydrocarbons. Acids and ketons were the most abundant, while
esters were the most numerous group. Technological characterization of the isolates indicated
that 40% of the isolates can use citrates and 32% can produce diacetyl. Also, 12% of the
isolates produce exopolysacharides and 7% produced bacteriocines which were active against
used test microorganisms Lаctococcus lactis subsp. lactis BGMNI-596, Lc. lactis subsp.
lactis NP-45 and pathogenic Listeria sp. and Listeria monocytogenes.
