Analysis of resistance and virulence genes of foodborne Staphylococcus aureus in northwestern Hubei Province

Abstract

Objective To understand the prevalence, drug resistance, and virulence gene distribution of foodborne Staphylococcus aureus in northwestern Hubei Province. Methods A total of 303 food samples were collected from Xiangyang City, Shiyan City, and Suizhou City of Hubei Province for Staphylococcus aureus screening. Toxic genes and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) were detected with PCR method. The drug resistance of Staphylococcus aureus was determined with K-B paper diffusion method. Results Staphylococcus aureus strain was determined from 41 samples with the positive rate of 13.53%. Among them, the highest detection rate was from raw meat products (23.91%, 22/92). Among the enterotoxigenic strains, the strain carrying sea was the most common, accounting for 87.80% (36/41). The strains carrying eta and tst accounted for 97.56% (40/41) and 7.32% (3/41), respectively. Strains carrying three or more enterotoxin genes accounted for 17.07% (7/41). 2.44% (1/41) of strains carry eta and tst simultaneously. The drug susceptibility result showed that the penicillin, tetracycline, erythromycin, and doxycycline accounted for 78.05% (32/41), 43.90% (18/41), 31.71% (13/41) and 21.95% (9/41) respectively. The mecA gene test showed that 19.51% (8/41) of the strains were MRSA strains. Conclusion Foodborne Staphylococcus aureus in northwestern Hubei Province had a higher detection rate, toxic gene carring rate, and multiple drug resistance. Related departments need to strengthen food safety monitoring to control the spread of the strain.

Keywords

• staphylococcus aureus
• drug resistance
• virulence gene
• food safety