Molecular detection of the genes encoding virulence factors of coagulase-positive Staphylococcus aureus isolated from restaurants

Foodborne illness outbreaks have been associated with animal foods, and foodborne disease (FBD) is an international health issue. Staphylococcus (S.) aureus is considered one of the most important foodborne pathogens. The objectives of the present study were to isolate and identify S. aureus isolated from Meat, hand, and instrument of restaurants in Erbil city and to genes encoding virulence factors based on classical and molecular biology methods. Three hundred fifty samples of all kinds were collected from various areas in Erbil, Iraq (30, 40, 60, and 100-meter streets) from August 2024 to November 2024. The results of the current study found that the prevalence rate of S. aureus was 43.4% (152/350). The prevalence rate of S. aureus was different according to the area; in the 30-meter street was 38.8% (31/80); in the 40-meter street was 50% (40/80); in the 60-meter street was 36.7% (33/90), and in the 100-meter street was 48% (48/100). Additionally, all S. aureus possessed the nuc and coa genes at 100% (40/40), while S. aureus possessed the clfA gene at 95% (38/40), and the clfB gene was 92.5% (37/40). The gene profiles of S. aureus isolates are divided into four primary groups. The percentage of S. aureus isolates possessed the first gene profile was 85% (34/40), the second gene profile was 5% (2/40), the third gene profile was 7.5% (3/40), and the fourth gene profile was 2.5% (1/40). Staphylococcus aureus is isolated from meat and tools used in restaurants, significantly spreading the S. aureus in restaurants. All genes detected most of the S. aureus isolates based on the PCR assay.