Molecular Detection and Sequencing analysis of MecA gene of plasmid-mediated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in Mastitic Camels (Camelus dromedarius) in Sokoto State, Nigeria

Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli are among the most important aetiological agents of mastitis. The aim of this study is to genotypically determine the prevalence of plasmid mediated Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Escherichia coli pathogens from milk of camels in Sokoto State. A total of 405 milk samples (which comprises 181 samplesfrom mastitic and 224 from apparently healthy lactating camels) were collected. Standard methods of Culture, phenotypic, microscopic and biochemical characterization were employed to isolate and identified the bacterial pathogens. Staphylococcus aureus have the highest isolation rate of 97 (30.5%); followed by Staphylococcus epidermidis 66 (20.8 %) and Escherichia coli 38 (11.9 %). The DNA Plasmid curing and PCR assay revealed that the Multi-Drug-Resistant (MDR) associated with Staphylococcus aureus was found to be plasmid mediated. Staphylococcus aureus (30.5 %) and E. coli (11.9 %) remain the major pathogens isolated from this study. Serotyping confirmed by PCR of the E. coli isolates revealed the presence of E. coli O157:H7 and non O157:H7 serotypes. It is concluded that plasmid mediated MRSA strains remain the most prevalently isolated from dromedary milk and were most sensitive to ciprofloxacin on antibiogram. It is recommended from this study that ciprofloxacin will remain the drug of choice against strains of plasmid mediated MRSA and E. coli O157:H7

Author(s): Adamu Bello Kasarawa  

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