Identification of Lactic Acid Bacteria Isolated from Serbian Traditional Fermented Sausages Sremski and Lemeski Kulen

The microbial composition of Serbian traditional fermented sausages, Sremski and Lemeski kulen, was studied. The dominant lactic acid bacteria in these products were Lactobacillus (77.1 and 54.3%, respectively) and Leuconostoc (20.0 and 22.9%, respectively). Lemeski kulen was characterized by a high percent of Lactococcus (20.0%). The most abundant Lactobacillus species in Sremski and Lemeski kulen was Lb. brevis (61.5 and 57.9%, respectively). Sremski kulen contained Lb. pentosus (11.5%) and Lb. salivarius (7.7%), in contrast to Lemeski kulen which contained Lb. curvatus ssp. curvatus (15.8%). Lb. paracasei, Lb. plantarum and Lb. fermentum were present in similar percentages in both products.