Biodiversity and characterization of Staphylococcus species isolated from a small manufacturing dairy plant in Portugal

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2011

Authors

Soares, JC (Author) Other; Rosario Marques, MR (Author) Other; Tavaria, FK (Author) Other; Pereira, JO (Author) Other; F. Xavier Malcata (Author) Other; Pintado, MM (Author) Other

Journal

Title: International Journal of Food Microbiology

Vol. 146

Pages: 123-129

ISSN: 0168-1605

Publisher: Elsevier

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 26 Citations

Scopus - 33 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-002-T4V

DOI: 10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2011.02.008

Abstract (EN): The level and the diversity of the staphylococcal community occurring in the environment and dairy products of a small manufacturing dairy plant were investigated. Species identification was performed using different molecular methods, viz. Multiplex-PCR, amplified ribosomal DNA restriction analysis (ARDRA), and sodA gene sequencing. The main species encountered corresponded to Staphylococcus equorum (41 isolates, 39.0%), S. saprophyticus (28 isolates, 26.7%) and S. epidermidis (15 isolates, 14.3%). Additionally, low incidence of enterotoxin genes was obtained, with only 9 strains (8.6%) being positive for one or more toxin genes. With regard to antimicrobial resistance, 57.1% of the isolates showed at least resistance against one antibiotic, and 28.6% were multi-resistant, which might accomplish resistance for up to 6 antibiotics simultaneously. These results provided evidence that the presence of Staphylococcus species in dairy environment are mostly represented by S. equorum and S. saprophyticus, and illustrate that carrying antimicrobial resistance genes has become reasonably widespread in cheese and dairy environment.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 7