Multiplex PCR detection of the classical enterotoxin genes of Staphylococcus aureus in humans and animal isolates

Staphylococcus aureus is a prevalent bacterial causative agent of bovine mastitis and human food illness by secreting enterotoxins. This study aims to identify the seven
classic Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxin genes (SEA to SEH) isolated from humans and animals. A total of 173 human isolates and 14 mastitis (goat and cow) isolates were amplified with a 23S rRNA genes. The presence of classical enterotoxins genes (sea-seh) was amplified using multiplex polymerase chain reaction (m-PCR). Amplification of the
SEs genes singly and in combination was observed from both isolates. Of 173 human isolates, the sec genes showed the highest prevalence of 112 isolates (65%), followed by the
seh gene were 89 isolates (51%), 61 (35%) for seg gene and one (1%) for sea and see genes. The two genes in combination were also detected se (c, h), se (c, g), se (g, h)] and the three combination genes were se (c, g, h). Furthermore, all 14 animal isolates were positive for seh gene (100%), 11 (78%) for sec gene and 11 (78%) for combination se (c, h). Five classical enterotoxin genes (seh, sea, seg, sec, see) isolated from Staphylococcus aureus in humans were identified. Still, only seh and sec genes were identified from the animal origin. In the present study, identifying the genes encoding SE will contribute to recognize the prevalent of enterotoxins distribution among Staphylococcus aureus strains in samples of animals and human origin.