Detection of methicillin resistance of Staphylococcus aureus gene isolates from contaminated cow’s milk

Abstract EN

One hundred samples of raw cow milk was collected from different market centers in Basrah city during a period from 16 June to 21 August 2017 and analyzed for the presence of Staphylococcus aureus.

The biochemical test revealed that 26 isolates on mannitol salt agar were (S.

epidermidis), and 32 isolates were (S.

aureus) and give a positive result to coagulase, catalase urease, and citrate utilization tests, whereas negative results to indole test.

The high rate of S.

aureus was observed in Abu Skair 55% followed by Al-Dair 40%, Al-Zubair 35%, Al Karma 25%, and Al-Hartha 5%.

The presence of the mecA gene by using pairs of primers revealed that 6.25% of S.

aureus strain contain that gene.

By using the disc diffusion method, all tested isolates revealed high sensitivity toward chloramphenicol and erythromycin, intermediate sensitivity to tetracycline and novobiocin, and 100% resistance toward methicillin and amoxicillin.