Abstract

Background:
Due to its deadly toxins and ability to produce enzymes, the commensal bacterium Staphylococcus aureus is found in animals, birds, and people. It may also be linked to certain medical disorders.

Aim:
This study was aimed at the prevalence and molecular detection of mecA and lukD genes from livestock-associated methicilin-resistant S. aureus (LA-MRSA) in raw chicken meats sold in Abakaliki.

Methods:
The butchers in the slaughterhouses provided 150 fresh raw chicken meat samples, which were then cultured and purified using Mannitol Salt Agar. The LA-MRSA was determined using oxacillin and cefoxitin by disk diffusion method. A polymerase chain reaction was used to investigate the presence of mecA and lukD genes in the isolates that were resistant to cefoxitin and oxacillin.

Results:
Exactly, 61 (40.7%) out of the 150 samples analyzed were positive for S. aureus, 39 (52.0%) and 22 (29.3%) were isolated from broiler and layer chicken meats respectively. Out of the 61 (40.7%) samples colonized by S. aureus, 7 (11.5%) were identified to be LA-MRSA positive using the phenotypic method. Thus, 5 (12.8%) and 2 (9.1%) were recovered as LA-MRSA positive from broiler and layer chicken meats respectively. All the LA-MRSA was reported to present three major multidrug resistance index (MDR) patterns. The overall prevalence of mecA and lukD genes were reported as 2 (28.6%) and 3 (42.9%) respectively.

Conclusion:
This study confirmed the presence of mecA and lukD in LA-MRSA isolated from chicken in Abakaliki, Nigeria and is a serious public health threat.

Key words: Chicken meats, mecA, LA-MRSA, lukD, Public health