Isolation of coagulase-positive Staphylococcus aureus from meat and intestine of native ducks of Tabriz area

Coagulase-positive Staphylococcus aureus is introduced as the third major source of animal origin food borne disease. This bacterium can proliferate and produce toxin in protein and carbohydrate foods leading to food-poisoning. The aim of this study was isolation, identification and enumerating of S. aureus in meat as well as intestinal contents of native duck around Tabriz area. For this purpose, a total number of 35 native ducks randomly was purchased in the nearby villages of Tabriz. Fifty g of thigh meat together with 10 g of intestinal content of each carcass were sampled and analyzed according to the ISIRI protocols. The isolates were confirmed by PCR technique. Results showed that 17.14% of meat and fecal samples were found contaminated with S. aureus. Mean values of S. aureus load in meat and feces were estimated at 87 CFU/g and 64 CFU/g, respectively. It was assumed that contamination of duck meat with S. aureus can be occurred through non-hygienic practices during slaughter as well as contamination with intestinal contents and/or skin of the carcass