Vol. 11, Issue 12 (2022)

The production and supply chains both are susceptible to post-harvest microbial contamination of seafood. This would result in the propagation of drug-resistant pathogens of public health significance. The present study aims to determine the occurrence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) from different retail fish markets in the Wayanad district. A total of 180 fish samples, comprising finfishes (60), crustaceans (60), molluscs (60), and 36 market environmental (handwash, surface swab, and ice) samples, were analyzed for S. aureus and MRSA by conventional culture-based and molecular methods. The characterization of isolates for Methicillin resistance by phenotypic disc diffusion method showed more resistance towards oxacillin (11.64%), followed by cefoxitin (5.47%). Molecular confirmation using the nuc gene showed the occurrence of S. aureus in 90% of fin fishes, 41.6% of crustaceans, 71.6% of molluscs, and 66.67% of environmental samples, respectively. The occurrence of mecA gene was found to be 4.09% in seafood and 12.5% in environmental samples.