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Aims/Objective: Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a dominant cause of severe healthcare-associated (HA) infections but has recently emerged as Community-Associated (CA-MRSA) and Livestock-Associated MRSA (LA-MRSA). This study was carried out to detect the presence of Methicillin-Resistant S. aureus in Ready-to-Eat (RTE) Corbiculid heterodont in Bayelsa state, Nigeria. Place of Study: This study was conducted in Yenagoa, Southern Ijaw and Sagbama Local Government Areas, Bayelsa State, Nigeria. Methodology: Fifty-three samples (dried, fried and stewed) of the RTE C. heterodont were collected and subjected to standard microbiological procedures. Results: Seventy Staphylococcus spp. were isolated, consisting of 65 (92.86%) S. aureus and 5 (7.14%) coagulase negative Staphylococcus (CONS). Out of the 65 S. aureus isolates, 53.8% were MRSA. Susceptibility pattern of MRSA showed a decreasing trend of resistance in the order: Amoxacillin, Ampicillin-Cloxacillin, Cefoxitin, and Oxacillin (100%) > Streptomycin (82.9%) >Ceftriaxone (40%) >Cefuroxime (31.4%), > Ciprofloxacin and Trimethoprim-Sulfamethoxazole (17.1%) > Gentamycin and Pefloxacin (8.6%) > Erythromycin (2.9%).Out of the 65 S. aureus isolates, 62 (95.4%) had Multidrug Resistance Index > 0.2 while 3 (4.6%) had 0.2 as their Multidrug Resistance Index. The MRSA isolates were 100% Multidrug Resistant (MDR) while the Methicillin-Sensitive S. aureus (MSSA) were 90% MDR. Molecular characterization of ten S. aureus isolates confirmed 80% S. aureus isolates and 20% CONS (S. sciuri and S. warneri).  Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and Agarose gel-electrophoresis were used to detect the presence of mecA gene, a gene that confers methicillin resistance. The mecA gene with size 500bp was identified in 50% of MRSA. This study reported presence of MRSA and MDR S. aureus in C. heterodont sold in Bayelsa state, Nigeria. This could be the avenue for the spread of MRSA. Public health awareness campaigns should be advocated to enhance hygienic practices in the handling and distribution of food.

The menace of opportunistic infections arising from food contamination can be tackled with knowledge of agents effective against the etiologic agents. A bacteriological examination was carried out on Tympanotonos fuscatus (West African Mud Creeper) sold at different markets in Port Harcourt, Nigeria with interest on Pseudomonas aeruginosa and their antibiogram using standard microbiological methods. Results showed that parboiled samples had the mean total heterotrophic bacterial counts between 26.33±11.02x106 and 85.67±3.79x106 cfu/g, total coliform counts, 6.0±1.73x106 and 13.0±7.21x106 cfu/g and total Pseudomonad counts, 0.00 and 0.67±1.16x102 cfu/g. Roasted samples had total heterotrophic bacterial counts between 40.0±1.73x106 and 45.75±3.86x106 cfu/g, total coliform counts, 10.0±7.211x106 and 13.0±9.539 x 106 cfu/g and total Pseudomonad counts, 6.67±4.619x102 and 20.75±22.824 x102 cfu/g. There was difference (p<0.05) in the total heterotrophic bacteria counts of parboiled samples from the different markets but none in coliform and Pseudomonads counts. No difference (p>0.05) was recorded in counts from the roasted samples. Thirty-two (32) Pseudomonas isolates were obtained from the markets occurring least in the parboiled 6 (18.75%) samples compared to roasted 26 (81.25%) samples. Mile3 market had the highest occurrence 3 isolates (50%) for parboiled samples whereas Mile1 market with 1 isolate (16.67%) was lowest. Results of Antibiogram revealed that Pseudomonas species had varying sensitivity to all the antibiotics tested and was most susceptible to Ofloxacin (90.6%) and most resistant to Nalidixic acid (84.4%). Although the counts obtained are within the upper limits (5x107cfu/gm) recommended by the International Commission on Microbiological Specifications for Foods (ICMSF), there is need to properly cook Tympanotonus fuscatus before consumption to reduce risks of opportunistic pathogens. Infections from Pseudomonas species may be managed with appropriate doses of ofloxacin.

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