Molecular genetic typing characteristics of human and animal isolates of Staphylococcus aureus

Abstract

Staphylococcus aureus is a commensal and an opportunistic pathogen of both man and animals. It is capable of causing a broad spectrum of diseases, ranging in severity from superficial skin complaints such as boils and impetigo to potentially life-threatening conditions such as toxic shock syndrome and infective endocarditis in man as Avell as mastitis and other diseases in animals. S. aureus can also cause staphylococcal food poisoning in humans which is characterised by the rapid onset and resolution of the symptoms whieh include nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and, occasionally, diarrhoea. The disease is caused by staphylococcal enterotoxins - secreted proteins which are also known to be superantigenic. As S. aureus can colonise both food handlers and food animals, the source of contamination in an outbreak situation is not always identifiable.