Journal of Environmental Biology

Coagulase gene polymorphism of Staphylococcus aureus in fish

and its multiple drug resistant pattern

G.K. Sivaraman¹*, K.V. Lalitha², C.N. Ravi Shankar², A.K. Jha¹, S. Remya¹, D. Vanik¹,

S. Visnuvinayagam³, Y. Kriplani¹ and Ajeesh¹

¹Department of Microbiology, Fermentation and Biotechnology, ICAR-CIFT, Veraval- 362 269, India

²Department of Microbiology, Fermentation and Biotechnology, ICAR-CIFT, Cochin- 682 029, India

³Department of Microbiology, Fermentation and Biotechnology, ICAR-MCIFT, Varshi- 400 703, India

*Corresponding Author E-mail: gkshivraman@gmail.com  

Key words

Antibiotic resistance pattern,

Multidrug resistant,

Coagulase gene,

Staphylococci aureus

Publication Data

Paper received : 16.12.2015

Revised received : 23.05.2016

Re-revised received : 09.09.2016

Accepted : 08.11.2016

Abstract

Aim: Staphylococcus aureus is a common inhabitant of human skin and nose of healthy people and animals. But this well-known opportunistic pathogen that can cause a broad range of infections including mild skin infections, invasive diseases, toxin mediated diseases and food poisoning. S. aureus is considered as one of the most frequently occurring food-borne pathogen worldwide and cause food poisoning. So the main objective of the study was to monitor the presence of multi drug resistant coagulase positive staphylococci and its coagulase gene polymorphism in fish species of retail outlets in Gujarat, India.

Methodology: S.aureus was identified using FDA, (2015) standard procedures on Baird Parker (BP) agar plates with supplements of egg yolk emulsion and potassium tellurite solution. The characteristic Staphylococci colony was purified on Tryptic Soy Agar plate and tested for coagulase with rabbit plasma. The antimicrobial sensitivity test was carried out by disc diffusion method on Mueller Hinton agar with 4% NaCl and the multi drug resistant staphylococci was interpreted as per CLSI, 2014 guidelines. Polymerase Chain Reaction was carried for the detection and typing of coagulase gene polymorphism.

Results: The present investigation revealed the incidence of 11.52% coagulase positive staphylococci in fish species of retail outlets in Gujarat with Staphylococcal count of 2.0 x 10¹ to 7.8 x 10² cfu.g^-1.  Almost all the CPS isolates were resistant to at least one antibiotic and many are resistant to multiple antimicrobials. The coa gene coding for coagulase protein showed multiple bands and were used for diagnosis of S.aureus.   

Interpretation: Seafood may be contaminated with multidrug resistant coagulase positive Staphylococci due to poor hygienic profile of the handlers, processing and unhygienic environment. 

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