Enterotoxin-Encoding Genes in Staphylococcus spp. from Food Handlers in a University Restaurant.
Food handlers carrying enterotoxin-producing Staphylococcus are a potential source of food poisoning. The aim of this study was to analyze genes encoding enterotoxins in coagulase-positive Staphylococcus (CoPS) and coagulase-negative Staphylococcus (CoNS) isolated from the anterior nostrils and hands of food handlers at a university restaurant in the city of Natal, Northeast Brazil. Thirty food handlers were screened for the study. The isolates were subjected to Gram staining, a bacitracin sensitivity test, mannitol fermentation, and catalase and coagulase tests. CoNS and CoPS strains were subsequently identified by a Vitek 2 System (BioMerieux, France) and various biochemical tests. Polymerase chain reaction was used to detect genes for enterotoxins A, B, C, D, E, G, H, and I (sea, seb, sec, sed, see, seg, seh, and sei) and a disc-diffusion method was used to determine susceptibility to several classes of antimicrobials. All food handlers presented staphylococci on their hands and/or noses. The study found 58 Staphylococcus spp., of which 20.7% were CoPS and 79.3% were CoNS. S. epidermidis was the most prevalent species. Twenty-nine staphylococci (50%) were positive for one or more enterotoxin genes, and the most prevalent genes were seg and sei, each with a frequency of 29.3%. Indeed, CoNS encoded a high percentage of enterotoxin genes (43.5%). However, S. aureus encoded even more enterotoxin genes (75%). Most isolates showed sensitivity to the antibiotics used for testing, except for penicillin (only 35% sensitive). The results from this study reinforce that coagulase-negative as well as coagulase-positive staphylococci isolated from food handlers are capable of genotypic enterotoxigenicity.
1 Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte , Natal, RN, Brazil .
Sabina Dos Santos Paulino
Sdos S
da Silva
1 Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte , Natal, RN, Brazil .
Thiago André
TA
Cidral
2 Department of Veterinary Morphophysiology, Federal University of Piauí , Teresina, PI, Brazil .
Maria José dos Santos
MJ
Soares
1 Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte , Natal, RN, Brazil .
Maria Celeste Nunes
MC
de Melo
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D001414:Bacitracin / Q000494:pharmacology; D001938:Brazil; D004768:Enterotoxins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005511:Food Handling; D005798:Genes, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics*; D006225:Hand / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D009666:Nose / Q000382:microbiology; D010406:Penicillins / Q000494:pharmacology; D012147:Restaurants; D013210:Staphylococcus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000378:metabolism; D014495:Universities
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D004768:Enterotoxins; D010406:Penicillins; D001414:Bacitracin