Detection of mecA, icaA, hlα, sea genes, and histological changes in mice for Staphylococcus aureus isolated from vaginosis in Iraqi women

Staphylococcus aureus causes critical infections in humans such as urinary infections, mastitis, pneumonia, meningitis, endocarditis, and osteomyelitis. It represents the main cause of nosocomial infection in surgical wounds. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of S.aureus resistance and its virulence by using genetic markers. 150 samples were collected from vagina swabs for pregnant and nonpregnant women admitted to Ibn Al-Baladi and Al-Imamain Al-Kadhimain hospitals/Iraq. The study was performed from July to October 2023.The results showed that 13 isolates of S.aureus have mecA genes at ( 86.7%),11 isolates have icaA gene (73.3%), and 8 isolates have the sea gene (53.3%), while hla gene was found in all 15 isolates (100%). S.aureus isolates showed histopathological changes in liver ,lung and vagina of mice .There was a prevalence of methicillin resistance S. aureus due to the presence resistance gene in most isolates. S.aureus isolates in this study showed their virulence through the occurrence of histopathological changes in liver ,lung and vagina .