Characterisation of antibiotic resistant Staphylococcus species and molecular identification of mecA and toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 (tsst-1) genes of Staphylococcus aureus isolates from cows' milk

Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) is one of the most important causes of foodborne illness. Due to the interest of people to use traditional dairy products, especially milk, in the current descriptive study the frequency of S. aureus, antibiotic resistance pattern and presence of toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 gene (tsst-1 gene) in these isolated strains was investigated. Thirty-nine strains (26%) of S. aureus were identified from the samples studied, of which 6 (15.38%) were resistant to methicillin, and 9 (23.07%) were positive for mecA gene. Also, 31 (20.7%) coagulase-negative staphylococci isolates were identified. Out of the 39 strains of S. aureus, the presence of tsst gene was detected in 1 strain (2.56%). Therefore, S. aureus contamination indicates a risk to public health and can be significantly controlled using a high level of hygiene and professional training in the handling of raw milk.