MOLECULAR IDENTIFICATION AND DETECTION OF METHICILLIN RESISTANT Staphylococcus aureus CONTAINING PANTON VALENTINE LEUKOCIDIN (LUKF-LUKS) GENE IN POULTRY AND POULTRY FARM WORKERS IN KANO STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The pathogenesis of Staph. aureus is mediated by several cell surfaces and secreted virulence factors. The panton valentine leukocidin (PVL) encoded by LukF-LUkS genes associated with CA-MRSA are responsible for the wide spread of skin and soft tissue infection. This study aims to molecularly determine the PVL prevalence in methicillin S. aureus isolates. Isolates were obtained from poultry (Nasal and Cloacae swabs of chicks) and Nasal swab of workers from three senatorial zones in Kano. Phenotypic Identification of Staph. aureus was performed using coagulase both free and bound, catalase, DNase, and agglutination tests and using Microgen Staph ID kit. MRSA were phenotypically identified using cefoxitin. Genotypic characteristics were determined by spa typing, nuc gene and 16srRNA, detection of mecA gene and luks- lucf gene that encodes PVL. Out of 622 isolates, 98 (33.8 %) were S. aureus. Only 21 isolates showed the amplification of 16SrRNA and nuc gene. Seven isolates were Spa positive. Fifteen carried mecA gene. PVL gene was detected in 14 (14.3%) of S. aureus isolates. Majority of the PVL-positive isolates were obtained from nostril (8; 57.1%), four from cloacae (28.6%) and two from nostril of farm workers (14.3%). Most (10/14) of PVL positive isolates were methicillin resistant S. aureus. This study shows that 14.3% of S. aureus isolated in poultry and poultry farm workers carried PVL genes and 71.4% of the PVL positive were MRSA.