Presence of Staphylococcus aureus in White Cheese: Determination of Enterotoxin and Antimicrobial Resistance Genes

Year 2025, Volume: 36 Issue: 1, 14 - 22, 26.03.2025

Sümeyye Nur Arasoğlu Aydoğdu Rabia Mehtap Tuncay

https://doi.org/10.36483/vanvetj.1562902

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate Staphylococcus aureus contamination, enterotoxin presence, and antibiotic resistance in 100 white cheese samples, both packaged and unpackaged. Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) analysis showed S. aureus in 16 (32%) of the 50 unpackaged samples and 8 (16%) of the 50 packaged samples. 46 S. aureus isolates were obtained from 24 S. aureus positive samples. Moreover, the sed gene, associated with enterotoxin production, was detected in two 46 isolates, one from packaged and one from unpackaged white cheese samples. The isolates exhibited resistance to erythromycin (6.52%), gentamicin (10.87%), chloramphenicol (6.52%), trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (2.37%), rifampicin (15.21%), tetracycline (28.26%), cefoxitin (43.47%), and penicillin G (34.78%). Oxacillin and vancomycin resistance among the 46 S. aureus isolates was examined using the minimal inhibition concentration (MIC) method. According to the MIC results, none of the isolates were resistant to oxacillin. However, 47.82% of the isolates were resistant to vancomycin. Overall, the isolates exhibited resistance to 9 out of the 10 antibiotics tested. In addition to the resistance profiles, resistance genes were also investigated. It was found that 3 out of the 46 S. aureus isolates (13.6%) carried the mecA gene, 6 (27.2%) carried the mecC gene, and 1 (2.17%) carried both mecA and mecC genes. In conclusion, detecting S. aureus in white cheese indicates poor hygiene. The high antibiotic resistance, presence of resistance genes, and enterotoxin genes in some isolates suggest poses a risk of transmitting resistant microorganisms to humans, potentially complicating disease treatment and causing foodborne illness, posing a public health concern now and in the future.

Keywords

Antibiotic resistance, Enterotoxin, Public health, Staphylococcus aureus

Supporting Institution

the Research Fund of Van Yüzüncü Yıl University

Project Number

TYL-2021-9501

Thanks

This study was supported by the Research Fund of Van Yüzüncü Yıl University with the project number of TYL-2021-9501. We want to thank the institution.

Beyaz Peynirlerde Staphylococcus aureus Varlığı: Enterotoksin ve Antimikrobiyal Direnç Genlerinin Belirlenmesi

Abstract

Bu çalışma hem ambalajlı hem de ambalajsız olmak üzere toplam 100 beyaz peynir örneğinde Staphylococcus aureus kontaminasyonu, enterotoksin varlığı ve antibiyotik direncini değerlendirmeyi amaçlamıştır. Polimeraz Zincir Reaksiyonu (PCR) analizi, 50 ambalajsız örneğin 16'sında (%32) ve 50 ambalajlı örneğin 8'inde (%16) S. aureus varlığını göstermiştir. 24 S. aureus pozitif örnekten 46 izolat elde edilmiştir. Ayrıca, enterotoksin üretimiyle ilişkili sed geni, biri ambalajlı biri ambalajsız beyaz peynir örneklerinden elde edilen iki izolatta tespit edilmiştir. İzolatlar eritromisin (%6.52), gentamisin (%10.87), kloramfenikol (%6.52), trimetoprim-sülfametoksazol (%2.37), rifampisin (%15.21), tetrasiklin (%28.26), sefoksitin (%43.47) ve penisilin G'ye (%34.78) direnç göstermiştir. 46 S. aureus izolatında oksasilin ve vankomisin direnci, minimal inhibisyon konsantrasyonu (MİK) yöntemi kullanılarak incelenmiştir. MİK sonuçlarına göre, izolatların hiçbirinin oksasiline dirençli olmadığı tespit edilmiştir. Ancak, izolatların %47.82'si vankomisine direnç göstermiştir. Genel olarak, izolatlar test edilen 10 antibiyotiğin 9'una direnç göstermiştir. Direnç profillerine ek olarak, direnç genleri de araştırılmıştır. 46 S. aureus izolatının 3'ünün (%13.6) mecA genini, 6'sının (%27.2) mecC genini ve 1'inin (%2.17) hem mecA hem de mecC genlerini taşıdığı tespit edilmiştir. Sonuç olarak, beyaz peynirde S. aureus tespit edilmesi, hijyen koşullarının yetersiz olduğunu göstermektedir. Yüksek antibiyotik direnci, direnç genlerinin varlığı ve bazı izolatlarda enterotoksin genlerinin bulunması, dirençli mikroorganizmaların insanlara bulaşma riskini işaret etmekte olup, bu durum, hastalık tedavisini zorlaştırabilir ve gıda kaynaklı hastalıklara neden olabilir. Bu da şimdi ve gelecekte halk sağlığı açısından endişe verici bir durum oluşturmaktadır.

Keywords

Antibiyotik dirençliliği, Enterotoksin, Halk sağlığı, Staphylococcus aureus

Project Number

TYL-2021-9501

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