Detection of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in broiler and broilers farm workers in Duhok, Iraq by using conventional and PCR techniques

• Main Authors: Mahde S. Assafi, Hishiyar A. Hado, Ibtessam S. Abdulrahman
• Format: Article
• Language: Arabic
• Published: University of Mosul, College of Veterinary Medicine 2020-01-01
• Series: Iraqi Journal of Veterinary Sciences
• Subjects: mrsa; s. aureus; meca gene; broilers; farm workers
• Online Access: https://vetmedmosul.com/article_163566_e35fc5256eadb309c771dcebe9015acd.pdf
• ISSN: 1607-3894; 2071-1255

Livestock-associated methicillin-resistant <em>Staphylococcus aureus </em>(MRSA) has become a global public health concern. The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence rates of MRSA infection amongst broiler chickens and broilers farm workers. The total samples used in this study were 306. Cloacal swab samples from 231 broilers and nasal swab samples from 75 broilers farm workers were collected from five farms in Duhok city, Iraq. Isolation and identification of MRSA isolates were carried out and the antibiotic susceptibility were screened. Molecular characterization of all isolates was performed by using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique to detect the <em>mec</em>A gene.<em>S. aureus</em> was detected among 84% (63/75) of the farms workers samples and among 84.8% (196/231) of the broiler's samples. The <em>S. aureus</em> isolated from farm workers and broilers appeared resistant to oxacillin 28.6% (18/63), and 32.1% (63/196), respectively. MRSA colonization in farm workers and broilers was 24% (18/75) and 27.3% (63/231) respectively. The <em>S. aureus</em> isolates showed the most resistant to chloramphenicol and the least resistant to vancomycin. The results of the PCR assays revealed that 85.7% (12/14) of <em>S. aureus</em> isolates from farm workers and 44.4% (16/36) of <em>S. aureus</em> isolates from broilers were positive for the <em>mecA</em> gene. The direct handling of broilers by farm workers plays the important role for transport the MRSA isolates from broilers to broilers farm workers.