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Biosensor for Detection of Antibiotic Resistant Staphylococcus Bacteria
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Biosensor for Detection of Antibiotic Resistant Staphylococcus Bacteria

Published on: May 8, 2013

Methicillin- and Vancomycin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA and VRSA) in Raw and Cooked Buffalo Meat Products

Mennat-Allah Ahmed Diaa1, Amira Ibrahim Zakaria1, Hazem Ramadan2

  • 1Department of Food Hygiene, Safety, and Technology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura 35516, Egypt.

Foods (Basel, Switzerland)
|July 15, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, including MRSA and VRSA strains, were found in over half of Egyptian buffalo meat products. This highlights significant food safety risks and the urgent need for improved hygiene and antibiotic stewardship.

Area of Science:

  • Food Microbiology
  • Antimicrobial Resistance
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Buffalo meat consumption in Egypt presents food safety challenges due to potential microbial contamination.
  • Enterotoxigenic Staphylococcus aureus is a significant pathogen associated with foodborne illnesses.
  • The emergence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) strains, including methicillin-resistant (MRSA) and vancomycin-resistant (VRSA) Staphylococcus aureus, poses a growing public health threat.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the prevalence and characteristics of MDR enterotoxigenic Staphylococcus aureus in raw ground buffalo meat and ready-to-eat (RTE) meat products in Mansoura, Egypt.
  • To determine the occurrence of specific resistance genes (mecA, vanA) and enterotoxin genes (sea, seb, sec) in Staphylococcus aureus isolates.
  • To assess the antimicrobial resistance patterns and identify extensively drug-resistant (XDR) and MDR strains.

Main Methods:

  • Bacteriological analysis of raw ground buffalo meat, kofta, and liver samples for Staphylococcus aureus.
  • Molecular detection of Staphylococcus aureus using the nuc gene.
  • Identification of methicillin resistance (mecA gene) and vancomycin resistance (vanA gene).
  • Detection of enterotoxin genes (sea, seb, sec) using PCR.
  • Antimicrobial susceptibility testing against 15 antibiotics.
  • Calculation of the Multiple Antibiotic Resistance (MAR) index.

Main Results:

  • Staphylococcus aureus was detected in 54.3% of all samples, with high prevalence in raw ground meat (62%) and RTE liver (60%).
  • Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) was found in 46.8% of isolates, and vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (VRSA) in 21.8%.
  • Enterotoxigenic strains were present in 42.7% of isolates, with the sea gene being the most common.
  • A significant proportion of isolates were MDR (82.9%), with some exhibiting XDR characteristics, indicating widespread antibiotic exposure.

Conclusions:

  • Egyptian buffalo meat products are heavily contaminated with MDR enterotoxigenic MRSA and VRSA, posing a substantial public health risk.
  • The high prevalence of resistance genes and enterotoxigenic strains underscores the need for stringent food safety measures.
  • Implementing strict hygiene protocols, promoting judicious antibiotic use, and continuous surveillance are crucial to control the spread of these resistant pathogens in the food chain.
Keywords:
Fried liverMDRMRSAPCRStaphylococcus aureusVRSAbuffalo meatenterotoxinskofta sandwiches

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