Abstract
The present study was done to estimate the microbial quality of salted fish (moloha and fesikh) through detection of Staph. aureus with identified vancomycin and methicillin-resistant genes (VMRSA) from salted fish for their public health significance. A total of 50 samples of salted fish (25 moloha and 25 fesikh) were purchased from markets. Samples were examined microbiologically for detection of incidence and molecular characterization of Staph. aurous and assessment of the sanitary quality of salted fish. Total aerobic plate count showed mean values of 3.3×104 ± 1.3×10cfu/ml for moloha and 6.2×104 ± 3.6×10cfu/ml for fesikh, the coliform count showed a mean value of 2.1×102 ± 1.1×10cfu /ml and 3.5×102 ± 1.6 ×10 cfu/ml for moloha and fesikh respectively. Staph. aureus count showed a mean value of 1.9×102 ± 1.2×10 cfu/ml for moloha and 2.3×102 ± 1.2 ×10 cfu/ml for fesikh. Moloha samples exceed standard total aerobic bacterial count, Coliforms count, Staph. aureus count were14 (56%),7 (28%) , 19 (76%) respectively, and fesikh samples exceed standard total aerobic bacterial count, Coliforms count, S. aureus count were18 (72%), 10 (40%), 23 (92%) respectively. Staph. aureus isolates was more sensitive to Vancomycin (66.66%), and the most resistant antibiotic was Oxytetracycline (95.24%) then Erythromycin and Doxycycline (92.86%). Incidence of isolation of Staph. aureus from examined moloha (25 samples) and fesikh (25 samples) by 76% and 92%. Methicillin-resistant Staph. aureus (MRSA) was 32% and 48%. Methicillin and vancomycin-resistant Staph. aureus (MVRSA) was 20 % and 36% respectively. MecA gene was detected in 60% of examined Staph. aureus isolates. Vancomycin-resistant genes (VanA, vanB, vanX) of examined Staph. aureus isolates were positive for vanA (30%) but vanB and vanX genes were not detected. Results revealed that both products are considered as a source of MVRSA, an emerging public health problem.

Key words: Staph. aureus, MRSA, V MRSA, salted fish