Isolation and characterization of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus strains from Louisiana retail meats

Appl Environ Microbiol. 2009 Jan;75(1):265-7. doi: 10.1128/AEM.01110-08. Epub 2008 Oct 31.

Abstract

We investigated the prevalence of Staphylococcus aureus and methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) in 120 retail meat samples from 30 grocery stores in Baton Rouge, LA. S. aureus strains were recovered from 45.6% of pork samples and 20% of beef samples, whereas MRSA strains were isolated from six meat samples (five pork samples and one beef sample). The MRSA isolates were of two strain types (clones), one harboring Panton-Valentine leucocidin and belonging to pulsed-field gel electrophoresis type USA300 and the other one belonging to USA100.

MeSH terms

  • Bacterial Proteins / genetics
  • Bacterial Toxins / genetics
  • Bacterial Typing Techniques
  • DNA Fingerprinting
  • DNA, Bacterial / genetics
  • Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field
  • Exotoxins / genetics
  • Genotype
  • Leukocidins / genetics
  • Louisiana
  • Meat Products / microbiology*
  • Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / classification
  • Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / isolation & purification*

Substances

  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Bacterial Toxins
  • DNA, Bacterial
  • Exotoxins
  • Leukocidins
  • Panton-Valentine leukocidin