AUTHOR=Osman Kamelia M. , Amer Aziza M. , Badr Jihan M. , Helmy Nashwa M. , Elhelw Rehab A. , Orabi Ahmed , Bakry Magdy , Saad Aalaa S. A. 

TITLE=Antimicrobial Resistance, Biofilm Formation and mecA Characterization of Methicillin-Susceptible S. aureus and Non-S. aureus of Beef Meat Origin in Egypt

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Microbiology

VOLUME=7

YEAR=2016

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/microbiology/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2016.00222

DOI=10.3389/fmicb.2016.00222

ISSN=1664-302X

ABSTRACT=<p>Methicillin-resistant <italic>Staphylococcus aureus</italic> (MRSA) have been found in various farm animal species throughout the world. Yet, methicillin-susceptible <italic>S. aureus</italic> (MSSA), methicillin-susceptible non-<italic>S. aureus</italic> (MS-NSA), and methicillin-resistant non-<italic>S. aureus</italic> (MR-NSA) were not investigated. Therefore, we persued to determine the diversity in their phenotypic virulence assay, phenotypic antimicrobial resistance profile and molecular characterization in one of the food chains in Egypt. Samples were collected during 2013 from beef meat at retail. Twenty seven isolates comprising five species (<italic>S. hyicus, S. aureus, S. schleiferi</italic> subsp<italic>. coagulans, S. intermedius</italic>, and <italic>S. lentus</italic>) were characterized for their antibiotic resistance phenotypic profile and antibiotic resistance genes (<italic>mec</italic>A, <italic>cfr, gyrA, gyr</italic>B, and <italic>grlA</italic>). Out of the 27 <italic>Staphylococcus</italic> isolates only one isolate was resistant to the 12 antibiotics representing nine classes. Raw beef meat sold across the Great Cairo zone, contains 66.7% of MRS, with highest prevalence was reported in <italic>S. aureus</italic> (66.7%), while the MRS non-<italic>S. aureus</italic> strains constituted 66.7% from which <italic>S. hyicus</italic> (60%), <italic>S. intermedius</italic> (33.3%), <italic>S. schleiferi</italic> subsp. <italic>coagulans</italic> (100%), and <italic>S. lentus</italic> (100%) were MRS. Seven <italic>S. aureus</italic>, six <italic>S. hyicus</italic>, four <italic>S. schleiferi</italic> subsp. <italic>coagulans</italic>, three <italic>S. intermedius</italic>, and one <italic>S. lentus</italic> isolates although being resistant to oxacillin yet, 11/27 (40.7%) carried the <italic>mec</italic>A gene. At the same time, the <italic>cfr</italic> gene was present in 2 of the nine <italic>S. aureus</italic> isolates, and totally undetectable in <italic>S. hyicus, S. schleiferi</italic> subsp. <italic>coagulans, S. intermedius</italic>, and <italic>S. lentus.</italic> Although, global researches largely focused into MRSA and MR-NSA in animals on pigs, the analysis of our results stipulates, that buffaloes and cattle could be MRSA dispersers and that this theme is not specific to pigs. Detection of MSSA virulence determinants is a must, as although oxacillin resistance may be absent yet, the MSSA may carry the virulence determinants which could be a source of perilous <italic>S. aureus</italic> for the human community.</p>