Abstract:
A study was carried out on the contamination of Staphylococcus aureus in beach water from four beaches (Bangsaen, Pattaya, Cha-am, Hua-Hin) and in green mussel (Perna viridis) from six mussel-culture farms (Cholburi, Angsila, Sriracha, Bangtaboon, Klongdan, Maeklong) during January to November 2014. Staphylococci (Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus hyicus, Staphylococcus intermedius) were analyzed by using the Petrifilm method. It was found that the beach water at Hua-Hin was the most contaminated by Staphylococcus aureus (average 2.72x103 CFU/mL), followed by Bangsaen, Pattaya and Cha-am, respectively. Mussels from Bangtaboon farming area were found to be the most contaminated by Staphylococcus aureus (average 2.01x103 CFU/g), followed by Sriracha Cholburi Angsila, Klongdan and Maeklong respectively. Most mussel samples were found to be contaminated at the levels above the permissible limits of microbiological criteria for human consumption of seafood. The study of gene enterotoxin from Staphylococcus aureus was isolated from mussel- culture farms (Cholburi, Angsila and Sriracha). The Characteristic of pathogens had been studied by using Mannitol Salt Agar. From this study, the result showed that 40 percent of the total sample at the place of three sources was Staphylococcus aureus. Moreover, 13 colonies of Staphylococcus aureus were selected to determine the type of enterotoxin by using Polymerase chain reaction, only one colony Staphylococcus aureus isolated from Angsila in September has gene SEA.