Occurrence, enterotoxigenic properties and antimicrobial resistance of Staphylococcus aureus on beef carcasses

The objectives of this study were to determine the incidence, enterotoxigenic properties and antimicrobial resistance of Staphylococcus aureus. For this purpose, 120 beef carcass samples, obtained from 2 different slaughterhouses in Ankara. All samples were collected to each of carcass regions of rump, flank and brisket per 100 cm(2) (10 x 10 cm, a total of 300 cm(2)) under aseptic conditions with sponge swab technique. Results of microbiological examinations, 15 (12.5%) of the 120 beef carcasses samples were confirmed as S. auerus. 19 (86,3 %) out of 22 S. aureus isolates determined as enteotoxigenic. It was determined that these enterotoxins contained 8 (36.3%) seh, 5 (22.7%) sea, 2 (9%) seg+sei, 1 (4.5%) sei, 1 (4.5%) sed+sej, 1 (4.5%) sea+tst, 1 (4.5%) tst gene distribution, respectively. According to the disc diffusion test results, 72.7%, 54.5%, 40.9%, 22.7% of S. aureus isolates were high level resistant to ampicillin, tetracycline, erythromycin, sulphamethoxazole-trimethoprim, respectively. All of the isolates were sensitive to vancomycin. As a conclusion, it was found that beef carcasses contaminated with S. aureus 15 (12.5%) and enterotoxigenic S. aureus level is relatively high 19 (86.3%). It is therefore recommended that slaughterhouses introduce internal hygiene measures such as the HACCP system in order to produce beef meat of good quality and thus protect public health.