From cattle to pastirma: Contamination source of methicillin susceptible and resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) along the pastirma production chain

This study was designed to determine the prevalence of Methicillin Susceptible S. aureus (MSSA) and Methicillin-Resistant S. aureus (MRSA) and their source of contamination in the pastirma production chain. Additionally, this study was focused on the antimicrobial resistance, virulence profiles, biofilm-forming capabilities and phylogenetic relationships of obtained isolates. A total of 400 samples were analyzed and from which 105 (26.25%) were found positive for coagulase-positive with Staphylococci (CPS). Within the 105 CPS samples, 36 (9%) were identified as S. aureus, from which 8 (2%) were MRSA. Four (11.1%) of 36 S. aureus isolates, of which 3 (37.5%) were MRSA, had a multidrug resistance (MDR), and 6 MRSA strains were found positive for one or more SEs genes (seb, sed, and see). According to the ERIC-PCR analysis, only two S. aureus strains (one with personnel origin and one with carcass origin) were genetically identical. This study highlights the detection frequency of S. aureus in samples analyzed observed, while low, can be a significant public health problem, especially due to the identification of MRSA harboring some enterotoxin genes and having MDR. •Source of contamination of MRSA in pastırma from farm to fork.•MRSA strains were positive for one or more SEs genes and demonstrated MDR.•There was a cross-contamination during the pastırma production process.•Presence of MRSA in pastırma production chain can be a pose public health problem.