Mansoura Veterinary Medical Journal

Isolation and Characterization of Enterotoxigenic Coagulase-Positive and Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Contaminating Beef Burger and Hot Dog Sandwiches Retailed in Mansoura City

Eman Mohamed, 1Food Hygiene and Control Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Mansoura University.
Hazem Ramadan, Hygiene and Zoonoses Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Mansoura University.
Samir Abd-Elghany, 1Food Hygiene and Control Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Mansoura University.Follow
Mahmoud Mahros, Food Hygiene and Control Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Mansoura University.Follow

Document Type

Original Article

Subject Areas

Food Hygiene

Keywords

Staphylococcus aureus, MRSA, Enterotoxins, Beef burger, Hot dog sandwiches

Abstract

Objective:The study was designed to assess, isolate and characterize coagulase-positive S. aureus and its enterotoxins, in addition to their methicillin resistance contaminating the beef burger and hot dog sandwiches purchased from different fast-food restaurants distributed in Mansoura city. Design: Observational study. Procedures: A total of 100 meat (50 beef burger and 50 hot dog) sandwiches were bacteriologically and molecularly analyzed to isolate and characterize the contaminating coagulase-positive S. aureus and its enterotoxins, in addition to their methicillin resistance. Results: S. aureus was found in 86% of overall tested samples, 90% in beef burger and 82% in hot dog sandwiches, in counts of 5.3×10 - 2.9×104, 9.5×10 - 1.9×104 and 1×10 - 3.8×104 and mean counts of 3.9×103, 3.5×103 and 4.2×103, respectively. Of the 106 confirmed coagulase-positive strains, 14 (13.2%) were enterotoxin producing strains and 47 (44.3%) of them carry the mecA gene confirmed their methicillin resistance. Regarding the microbiological quality of samples according to detected counts, 10%, 79% and 11% were acceptable, unsatisfactory, and potentially hazardous ready-to-eat meat sandwiches, respectively. Conclusion and clinical relevance: The results indicated that tested ready-to-eat meat sandwiches were contaminated with enterotoxigenic and methicillin resistant S. aureus and represent a potential hazard to consumers; hence strict hygienic measures at fast-food restaurants are crucial.

How to Cite This Article

Mohamed, Eman; Ramadan, Hazem; Abd-Elghany, Samir; and Mahros, Mahmoud (2021) "Isolation and Characterization of Enterotoxigenic Coagulase-Positive and Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Contaminating Beef Burger and Hot Dog Sandwiches Retailed in Mansoura City," Mansoura Veterinary Medical Journal: Vol. 22: Iss. 1, Article 5.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.21608/mvmj.2021.160714