Retail meat as a potential source of Panton valentine Leukocidin (pvl) positive methicillin resistant S. aureus

Panton–Valentine leukocidin (PVL), is an exotoxin encoding gene and has been associated with most CA-MRSA (Community Associated Methicillin Resistant S. aureus) strains which causes severe skin infections and necrotizing pneumonia in human. The present study was carried out to evaluate the prevalence of Panton Valentine Leukocidin (pvl) gene in S. aureus isolated from mutton marketed in retail outlets of Chennai, India. A total of 40 isolates (16 MRSA and 24 MSSA) from mutton samples, were screened based on PCR specific for pvl gene. It was evident that the 15 of the 40 isolates carried pvl gene, indicating an overall prevalence of 37.50 per cent. The prevalence of pvl gene in MRSA was 31.25 per cent (5/16) and in MSSA was 41.66 per cent (10/24). The results of the present study indicates that the prevalence of Community associated S. aureus in retail chicken meat, clearly indicating that the major source of S. aureus contamination in meat is human handlers and retail meat is a potential vehicle in transmission of MRSA to handlers as well as consumers.