Molecular diagnosis of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in backyard chickens affected with bumble foot.

UNLABELLED:

Background

Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) is an important zoonotic infection that causes diseases in chickens.

AIM: The study aimed to isolate of MRSA from chickens that suffered from bumblefoot and perform molecular diagnosis using the mecA gene and detection of protein A using the spa gene.

METHODS

The samples were subjected to standard bacteriological examinations, including morphological and cultural characteristics, biochemical properties, and antibiotic sensitivity tests. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was done for the detection of S. aureus using the (nuc, mecA, and spa) genes.

RESULTS

The study showed that S. aureus formed 68/100 (68%) from chickens with bumble foot disease, while only 49 / 68 (72%) of the isolates were resistant to methicillin according to the disc diffusion test. The results of molecular detection showed that all tested isolates possessed (nuc, mecA, and spa) genes that gave amplicon products at (166 bp,147 bp, and 357 bp), respectively.

CONCLUSION

The existence of MRSA in chicken samples comprises a threat to public health due to its potential transmission to humans and the environment.