Detection of enterotoxin genes of staphylococcus aureus isolates from chicken nugget in Esfahan province by PCR technique

The enterotoxigenic Staphylococcus aureus is considered as one of the most common agents of food poisoning, gastroenteritis, diarrhea and vomiting that the presence of bacterial virulence genes can be as the most important cause of this foodborn illness. The present study was conducted to determine the presence of S. aureus and its virulence factors in chicken nugget and ready to eat foods in Iran. In summer 2012 a total of 420 samples chicken nuggets were collected from randomly selected retail stores in Isfahan provinces, Iran. Samples were cultured and the positive results were studied using PCR for detection of sea-sej virulence genes. Results showed that 24 of 420 samples (5.7 %) were found to be contaminated with S. aureus. Also 23 of 24 isolated S. aureus were positive for one or more entrotoxin genes. The most detected genes were sea (25 %), sec (12.5 %), sed + sej (4.16 %), sed + seg (4.16 %), seg + sei (4.16 %), sea + seg (8.33 %), seb + sej + sei (4.16 %), sea + sed (12.5 %), sea + sec + sej (12.5 %). The most commonly detected genes were sea and sec.Discussion and The chicken nugget can be easily contaminated by the S. aureus and usually this contamination causes Staphylococcal food poisoning. Therefore, some food safety and quality standards need to be applied and performed in most of food units to control prevalence of S. aureus and its virulence factors. Nowadays, consumption of fast foods like chicken nuggets is very popular. Therefore, it is important to study the prevalence of enterotoxigenic S. aureus and its virulence genes in chicken nugget that this shows the important public health issue.