Multiplex PCR for rapid detection of enterotoxin genes in foodborne Staphylococcus aureus

Objective To establish a multiplex polymerase chain reaction(PCR) method for screening the foodborne Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxin(SE) genes.Methods Four primers were designed according to the published Staphylococcus aureus toxin genes conserved sequence.The specificity of four primers were tested by single PCR method and sequencing.A multiplex PCR method was established and used for detecting 165 strains of Staphylococcus aureus isolated from food risk monitoring and food poisoning events.Results A total of 165 strains of Staphylococcus aureus were detected with their typeA-typeD enterotoxin genes in this study,in which 95(57.58%) strains carried at least one kind of enterotoxin genes;42.42%(72/165) of strains carried one enterotoxin gene type,while 13.94%(23/165) of strains carried two or more types of enterotoxin gene.Conclusion This multiplex PCR method,which has been gradually applied to foodborne Staphylococcus aureus and food poisoning events,is rapid,sensitive,specific and is applicable for the detection of Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxin genes in food risk monitoring and food poisoning diagnosis.