Enterotoxigenic Potential ofStaphylococcus intermedius

Abstract

Staphylococcal food poisoning (SFP) caused by enterotoxigenic staphylococci is one of the main food-borne diseases. In contrast to Staphylococcus aureus, a systematic screening for the enterotoxins has not yet been performed on the genomic level for the coagulase-positive species S. intermedius. Therefore, the enterotoxigenic potential of 281 different veterinary (canine, n ‫؍‬ 247; equine, n ‫؍‬ 23; feline, n ‫؍‬ 9; other, n ‫؍‬ 2) and 11 human isolates of S. intermedius was tested by using a multiplex PCR DNA-enzyme immunoassay system targeting the staphylococcal enterotoxin genes sea, seb, sec, sed, and see. Molecular results were compared by in vitro testing of enterotoxin production by two immunoassays. A total of 33 (11.3%) S. intermedius isolates, including 31 (12.6%) canine isolates, 1 equine isolate, and 1 human isolate, tested positive for the sec gene. In vitro production of the respective enterotoxins was detected in 30 (90.9%) of these isolates by using immunological tests. In contrast, none of 65 veterinary specimen-derived isolates additionally tested and comprising 13 (sub)species of coagulase-negative staphylococci were found to be enterotoxigenic. This study shows on both molecular and immunological levels that a substantial number of S. intermedius isolates harbor the potential for enterotoxin production. Since evidence for noninvasive zoonotic transmission of S. intermedius from animal hosts to humans has been documented, an enterotoxigenic role of this microorganism in SFP via contamination of food products may be assumed.

Perfil de isolamento microbiano em cães com otite média e externa associadas

“…Estudos mostram a colonização de filhotes recém-nascidos pela referida espécie poucas horas após o nascimento (Saijonmaa-Koulumies e Lloyd, 2002). Além disso, tem sido demonstrado que as cepas virulentas de S. intermedius possuem considerável potencial enterotoxigênico (Becker et al, 2001) e produzem toxinas com propriedades de superantígenos (Hendricks et al, 2002). Esses achados tornam-se mais relevantes quando se considera evidente potencial zoonótico da espécie anteriormente descrito na literatura (Talan et al, 1989;Vandenesch et al, 1995;Terauchi et al, 2003).…”

Safety Evaluation Of Sjenica Cheese With Regard To Coagulase-Positive Staphylococci And Antibiotic Resistance Of Lactic Acid Bacteria And Staphylococci

“…Lamprell et al [31] pointed out that all CoPS counted on Baird Parker agar do not necessarily belong to the S. aureus species, as some colonies may be identifi ed as S. intermedius. Staphylococcus intermedius is the predominant non-S. aureus species isolated from food; some strains were characterized by enterotoxigenic potential [32] and shown to be clearly involved in staphylococcal food poisoning outbreaks [33]. Capurro et al [34] described the presence of S. intermedius in bovine milk in a range of 0,2 to 2%.…”

Perfil de contaminação por Staphylococcus e suas enterotoxinas e monitorização das condições de higiene em uma linha de produção de queijo de coalho

“…Outras espécies produtoras de coagulase, como S. intermedius (BECKER et al, 2001) e S. hyicus (ADESIYUN et al, 1984), também produzem enterotoxinas e têm sido envolvidas em alguns surtos. S. intermedius podem ser potenciais causadores de intoxicação alimentar (KHAMBATY et al, 1994).…”