Detection of Indicator Genes in Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) Isolated from Meat Samples

Aims: The presence of Staphylococcus aureus, particularly methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA), on retail meat products is becoming more and more of a concern. The aim of the present study is to examine the recovered strains of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) from different retail beef in Najaf/ Iraq. Methodology and results: The phenotypically by conventional identification. Genotypical examination was made also by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to detect the genes some diagnostic genes for the enterotoxins sea, seb, sed. More than 200 strains of Staphylococcus aureus, from different butchers meat shops. MRSA strains were characterized by streaking on different selective media and biochemically identified as Staphylococcus aureus MRSA. The results showed that the appearance of sea genes in 51% of the isolates. Seb gene was in 18.90% of the isolates while 5.40 % of the isolates displayed sed gene. Also, Resistance towards six different antimicrobial agents was assessed and revealed that the tested strains of Staphylococcus aureus showed different level of resistance for Streptomycin 100%, Cotrimoxazole 100% , Cephalothin 45.90%and Tetracycline 32.3%. Conclusion, significance and impact of study: the majority of molecular isolate types have been connected to human infections globally, demonstrating that these S. aureus strains in Iraq have a potential for serious pathogenicity. The presence of the genes (sea, sed, and seb) in the MERSA isolates from meat in this study is alarming and raising public health concerns.