Survival of enterotoxigenic staphylococcus aureus type A in Egyptian butter

ABSTRACT

A survey study of forty butter samples from different localities in Egypt were examined for the enterotoxigenic Staph. aureus. Staphylococci were detected in 77.5% of total samples with an average count of 80x105 org./g. Enterotoxins A and B were detected in 4 and one samples of butter respectively. Twenty two percent of isolated coagulase-positive Staphylococcus aureus were able to produce enterotoxin A or B. Farmers butter and factory-made butter, artificially contaminated with Staph. Aureus, were analyzed for enterotoxin and thermonuclease [TNase] during manufacturing and storage. TNase and enterotoxin were detected only in farmers' butter made from cream contaminated with high level of Staph. aureus [Telda 106 org/g]