Analysis of Contamination Sources of Staphylococcus aureus Related to Perilla Leaves Using Multi-Locus Variable Number of Tandem Repeat Analysis (MLVA)

Abstract

-To investigate the prevalence of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) during production of perilla leaves, a total of 261 samples, including water, soil, surroundings of cultivation and packing, workers, and perilla leaves, was examined.. To trace the contamination sources of S. aureus related to perilla leaves, MLVA (Multi-Locous Variable number of tandem repeat Analysis), which is a very efficient method to discriminate strains with minimum molecular biology equipment was applied to S. aureus isolated from perilla leaves farms. S. aureus was isolated in perilla leaves from 9 of 38 farms at 0-2.92 log CFU/g. S. aureus was also found in working environment, including packing vinyl, worker clothes, irrigation water and hands. The patterns of MLVA of isolates from perilla leaves matched with those of isolates from packing table, irrigation water, packing vinyl, and hands. The isolates were successfully examined and determined by MLVA, thus elucidating S. aureus source and spread.