PHENOTYPIC AND GENOTYPIC DETECTION OF ENTEROTOXINS, TOXIC SHOCK SYNDROME TOXIN-1 AND OF METHICILLIN RESISTANCE IN STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS ISOLATED FROM RETAIL READY-TO-EAT FOODS IN NORTHEASTERN THAILAND.

Toxigenic Staphylococcus aureus contamination of ready-to-eat (RTE) foods is a leading cause of foodborne illness in Thailand. From 151 RTE food samples randomly collected from food vendors and food shops in Khon Kaen municipality, Thailand and after culture-based identification of S. aureus isolates, pentaplex PCR was used for simultaneous detection of super-antigenic toxin (SE) genes (sea, seb, sec, sed and tst-1) and presence of their toxins by reversed passive latex agglutination assay. S. aureus was identified in 57 isolates, of which 60% and 25% was positive for presence of super-antigenic toxin genes and toxins, respectively; and among the former isolates sea was the most common (46%), as well as its product (SEA) (14%) among the latter group. Methicillin resistance S. aureus mecA was not found in any of the isolates using both PCR and disk diffusion methods. These results showed that pentaplex PCR is a useful tool for detection of SE-encoding genes in S. aureus isolates from RTE food.