Abstract

Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Methicillin-Resistant Coagulase Negative Staphylococci (MRCoNS) are of increasing importance to animal and public health where it has been isolated in food production line. The presence of Staphylococci on fish is an indication of contamination or disease in fish. This study was conducted to isolate and phenotypically characterize MRSA and MRCoNS from fresh fish, fish handlers, utensils used for fish processing and the scavenging animals within two major markets supplying fresh fish in Maiduguri, Nigeria. A total isolation rate of 121 (21.1%), 38 (6.6%) and 39 (6.8%) were detected as S. aureus, MRSA and MRCoNS, respectively. MRSA was isolated from fresh fish (2.6%), fish handlers (15%), utensils (4.5%) and scavenging animals (15.9%). MRCoNS was isolated from fresh fish 9 (3.4%), fish handlers 8 (13.3%), utensils 9 (5.8%) and scavenging animals 13 (13.8%). MRSA isolates showed resistance to cefoxitin (100%), gentamicin (89.5%), ciprofloxacin (94.7%), oxacillin (76.3%) and tetracycline (68.4%). Similarly, MRCoNS isolates were resistant to cefoxitin (100%), oxacillin (79.4%), cephazolin (66.6%) and tetracycline (64.1%). MRSA and MRCoNS were detected in most parts of fresh fish and the marketing environments supplying fish to consumers in Maiduguri. Further studies are needed to elucidate transmission routes of MRSA in relation to fresh fish and to provide tools for preventing the spread of MRSA.

Keywords:

Fish handlers, fresh fish, Maiduguri, MRCoNS, MRSA, Nigeria,

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