ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANT PROFILE AND MOLECULAR DETECTION OF RESISTANCE GENES IN MULTI-DRUG-RESISTANT Staphylococcus aureus ISOLATED FROM RETAIL MEAT IN OWERRI

Abstract

This study examines the antibiogram and molecular detection of Staphylococcus aureus isolated from retailed meat; beef, chicken, and pork in Owerri, Nigeria. Fifty samples were collected from the World Bank, Relief, and Amakaohia markets and assessed for bacterial load, identification, and antibiotic susceptibility. Prevalence rates were highest in beef (41.7%), followed by chicken (33.3%) and pork (25%), with a significant correlation between meat type and contamination (p < 0.05). Bacterial counts ranged from 29–300 cfu/g (TVC), 30–350 cfu/g (TCC), and 15–203 cfu/g (TSC), indicating varied hygiene conditions. All isolates showed complete resistance to Ceftriaxone, with high resistance (86.7%) to Azithromycin, Amoxil, and Cefuroxime, and moderate resistance (56.7%) to Rifampicin, Ciprofloxacin, Levofloxacin, Erythromycin, and Gentamycin. Multi-drug resistance was present in 33.3% of isolates, which were resistant to five antibiotic classes. Molecular analysis confirmed MRSA strains through the detection of the mecA gene (533 bp) and phylogenetic similarity to known global strains. These findings underscore retailed meat in Owerri as a reservoir for multidrug-resistant S. aureus, driven by inadequate hygiene and indiscriminate antibiotic use, necessitating stricter regulations, improved handling practices, and enhanced public health surveillance.