HIGH FREQUENCY OF ENTEROTOXIN ENCODING GENES OF STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS ISOLATED FROM THE NOSTRILS OF IRANIAN FOOD HANDLERS

Abstract

Staphylococcal enterotoxins (SEs) are key virulence factors in staphylococcal food poisoning (SFP). This study aimed to assess the frequency of staphylococcal enterotoxin genes among isolates from food handlers in Iran. Nasal swabs were collected from 575 food handlers. PCR using specific primers was used to detect sea, seb, and sec genes as markers for SEA, SEB, and SEC enterotoxins. Out of 575 nasal swabs, 168 (29.2%) were positive for S. aureus. Overall, 63.1% (106/168) of S. aureus isolates among food handlers were positive for the presence of at least one or more SE genes. Of the 168 isolates, sea, seb, and sec genes were found in 57 (33.9%), 29 (17.2%), and 20 (11.9%) isolates, respectively. A significant percentage of Iranian food handlers carry enterotoxigenic S. aureus in their noses. Therefore, strict hygiene measures, screening programs, and control of these carriers are necessary to prevent food contamination with S. aureus during food handling.