Abstract
This work was planned to detect and identify Staphylococcus aureus in imported frozen meat (Brazilian and Indian) as well as Balady (local slaughter) meat using routine bacteriological examination and PCR. A total of 100 samples from Brazalian meat, 75 samples from Indian meat and 50 samples from Balady meat were analyzed. Our results showed that the prevalence of Staphylococcus aureus in Brazilian, Indian and Balady meat was 27%, 26.67 % and 22 %, respectively. Antimicrobial resistances of the S. aureus isolates showed sensitivity to penicillin, rifompion, ampicillin and novobiocin, while resistant to oxacillin, sulphatrimethoprim, vancomycin and Cefotoxin. PCR for the detection of the mecA gene of methicillin resistance was positive with the tested oxacillin resistant S. aureus isolates. Further, multiple antibiotic resistances were detected in 98% (57/58) of the isolates. Higher MAR index was detected from S. aureus isolates from the three types of meat and different resistance phenotypes were detected. PCR for the detection of the virulence genes; Sea, Seb, Sec, Sed and See genes, was performed. Sea and Sed genes were negative, while Seb, Sec, and See genes were detected in 16.66%, 33.33% and 50% of the tested isolates, respectively. These results collectively indicate that Brazilian, Indian as well as balady meat can harbor S. aureus with high percentage of resistance to oxacillin and a wide range of multiple antimicrobial resistance.

Key words: Staphylococcus aureus, MRSA, Frozen meat, Balady meat