Association of some virulence genes in Methicillin resistant and Methicillin sensitive Staphylococcus aureus infections isolated in community with special emphasis on pvl/mecA genes profiles in Alexandria, Egypt

Abstract

IntroductionThe uncontrolled use of disinfectants and antiseptics during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, in Egypt, poses the risk of dissemination of virulence and antibiotic resistance among community acquired Staphylococcus aureus. AimThe goal of this study, was to shed a light on the virulence profile of both MSSA and MRSA isolated in community. In addition, the present study aimed at evaluating the correlation between level of prevalence of certain virulence genes in Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA and MRSA) that are acquired in community settings and mecA/pvl profile. MethodologyA total of 75 Staphylococcus aureus isolates were obtained from different private laboratories, all over Alexandria, Egypt, in 2020. The isolates were identified phenotypically, tested for their antibiotic resistance profile with special emphasis on Methicillin resistance. The presence of seven virulence genes namely: mecA, mecC, Panton-Valentine leucocidin (pvl), Serine-aspartate repeat-containing protein E (sdrE), enterotoxigenic gene (sea), Exfoliative toxin (eta), toxic shock syndrome (tsst), using polymerase chain reaction, was tested. Prevalence of antigenic genes were correlated to four profiles of mecA, pvl existence. ResultsIt was shown that: both mecC and eta genes were absent in all tested isolates, 18 of 75 (24%) carried the five genes and only three isolates lacked all the tested genes. The study revealed high level of antibiotic resistance among the tested isolates, where the prevalence of methicillin resistance accounted for up to 76%. Different levels of association were detected between the different antigenic traits specially when isolates were divided into four profiles revealing a correlation between the absence of pvl and that of sea genes in addition to a correlation with gender, wound infections and sea genes. ConclusionAs far as we are concerned, correlation to both mecA and pvl profiles was not previously attempted. Slightly higher prevalence of pvl genes in MSSA isolates than MRSA isolates, correlated to an extent to the presence or absence of other antigenic traits revealing the entangled nature of genetic components shown to be affected by gender, wound infection and sea genes existence, such finding opens a door for the prediction of infectious agents' profiles along with targeted treatment options.: The absence of mecC, suggests low or still no prevalence in Staphylococcus aureus isolated in community in Alexandria, as geographical region normally impacts gene distribution.