Egyptian Journal of Veterinary Sciences https://ejvs.journals.ekb.eg/ 19 E NTEROTOXIGENIC methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is considered as one of the common foodborne pathogens. The existing research was performed to investigate the distribution of enterotoxigenic and antibiotic resistance genes of MRSA bacteria that are isolated from raw poultry meat samples. Two-hundred and sixty poultry meat samples were cultured and MRSA bacteria were recognized using cefoxitin and oxacillin susceptibility test. Antibiotic resistance and enterotoxigenic gene profiles were studied using PCR test. Prevalence of MRSA amongst poultry samples was 5%. Chicken (12%) had the highest prevalence rate, while ostrich (1.66%) had the lowest. Total distribution of sea, seb, sec, sed and see enterotoxin encoding genes were 50%, 25%, 8.33%, 75% and 8.33%, respectively. BlaZ (100%), aacA-D (58.33%), tetK (58.33%), msrA (58.33%) and dfrA1 (50%) were the most regularly detected antibiotic resistance-encoding genes. Concurrent presence of enterotoxins and antibiotic resistance-encoding genes in MRSA bacteria stipulates important public health matters regarding the consumption of contaminated chicken, turkey, quail and ostrich meat.

Background: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is considered to be one of the most important causes of foodborne diseases. Objective: The current examination was performed to examine the distribution of staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec) and Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL) gene amongst the MRSA strains isolated from raw fowl meat samples. Materials and Methods: A total of 240 fowl meat samples were collected and cultured. MRSA strains were identified using cefoxitin and oxacillin susceptibility tests. DNA samples extracted from the MRSA strains were subjected to polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for detection of SCCmec and PVL gene. Results: Twenty-two out of 240 (9.16%) raw fowl meat samples were positive for S. aureus strains. Twelve out of 22 S. aureus strains (54.54%) were determined as MRSA strains. The incidence of MRSA strains in raw chicken, turkey, quail, and ostrich meat samples was 66.66%, 50%, 50%, and 33.33%, respectively. The incidence of SCCmec IVa, SCCmec IVd, and SCCmec V was 50%, 8.33% and 41.66%, respectively. The applied method failed to detect SCCmec types I, II, III, IVb, and IVc. The incidence of the PVL gene amongst the MRSA strains was 75%. Conclusion: The presence of SCCmec IV and SCCmec V and PVL gene revealed occurrence of community-associated MRSA (CA-MRSA) in fowl meat samples. Further studies are required to find additional epidemiological aspects of the MRSA strains in fowl meat samples.