ENTEROTOXIGENIC STRAINS OF COAGULASE-POSITIVE STAPHYLOCOCCUS-AUREUS IN DRINKS AND READY-TO-EAT FOODS

A total of 111 samples of local drinks and food contaminated with coagulase-positive Staphylococcus aureus, were selected at random for this study. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to screen the strains isolated, for the presence of staphylococcal enterotoxins; identification of toxin types was carried out using the reversed passive latex agglutination (RPLA) test. Of the 111 samples examined, 36 (32.4%) were found by ELISA to contain enterotoxigenic strains. The RPLA test was unable to confirm the presence of enterotoxins for three strains from three samples. Therefore the confirmed number of samples with enterotoxigenic strains was 33 (29.7%). The results of toxin typing was of special interest as a large percentage of the strains isolated produced enterotoxin B and not enterotoxin A as reported by some of the workers. Strains were not tested for enterotoxin E in this study as the relevant reagents were not available. © 1993 Academic Press Limited.