STUDY OF TOXIGENICITY AND ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE OF S. AUREUS ISOLATES RECOVERED FROM ANIMAL PRODUCTS IN THE KOSTANAY REGION

Abstract

This article presents the results of a study on the toxigenicity and antibiotic resistance of Staphylococcus aureus isolated from animal products in the Kostanay region. Foodborne toxicoinfections develop as a result of the influence of pathogenic microorganisms and their toxins, which are either produced by the microorganisms themselves or released upon their destruction. S. aureus is deemed as one of the most dangerous foodborne pathogens due to its association with high mortality rates worldwide, as evidenced by numerous studies.
The main objective of this study is to monitor toxigenic Staphylococcus aureus strains isolated from animal-derived food products in the Kostanay region, to identify enterotoxins using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method, and to investigate their biofilm-forming ability and antibiotic resistance profiles.
As a result of the conducted research, 40 strains of S. aureus were isolated from 178 samples of animal products. The enterotoxin testing revealed that the most frequently detected toxins were of types A and D. Type A toxin was found in 16 samples (72.5%) and type D - in 11 samples (50%). Antibiotic resistance testing showed the highest resistance to β-lactam antibiotics and aminoglycosides. Additionally, the ability to form biofilms among the S. aureus isolates from food products was approximately 45.5 %.
Key words: animal products, enterotoxins, Staphylococcus aureus, antibiotic resistance.