Prevalence of enterotoxigenic Staphylococcus aureus in fishery products and fish processing factory workers

Of the 168 fishery products and 87 samples from fish processing factory workers analyzed, 21 (17%) and 54 (62%) were found positive for enterotoxigenic Staphylococcus aureus, respectively. Among the products, incidence was high in frozen peeled un-deveined (PUD) prawns and frozen fish cutlets (33% each) compared to frozen peeled and deveined (PD) prawns and frozen squids (25% and 20%, respectively). 21 out of 51 strains (41%) isolated from products and in 15 out of 54 strains from processing workers (28%) were found to be enterotoxigenic. The enterotoxin type Staphylococcal enterotoxin C (SEC) (57%) was predominated followed by Staphylococcal enterotoxin A (SEA) (43%) in products and Staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) (40%), Staphylococcal enterotoxin C (SEC) (40%) and Staphylococcal enterotoxin A (SEA) (20%) in workers.