Prevalence of mecA Gene in Multi-resistant Staphylococcus aureus Isolated from Cola nitida Varieties in Côte d’Ivoire

Authors

  • Comoé Koffi Donatien Benie Department of Biosciences, Laboratory of Biotechnology, Agriculture and valorization of Biological Resources, University of Félix Houphouët Boigny, Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, Department of Food Science and Technology, Laboratory of Biotechnology and Food Microbiology (LMBM), University of Nangui-Abrogoua, Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire and Department of Bacteriology and Virology, Institut Pasteur of Côte d'Ivoire (IPCI), Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire
  • Amin Paulin Yapi Department of Biosciences, Laboratory of Biotechnology, Agriculture and valorization of Biological Resources, University of Félix Houphouët Boigny, Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire
  • Moussa Konate Department of Biosciences, Laboratory of Biotechnology, Agriculture and valorization of Biological Resources, University of Félix Houphouët Boigny, Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire
  • Solange Aka-Gbezo Department of Food Science and Technology, Laboratory of Biotechnology and Food Microbiology (LMBM), University of Nangui-Abrogoua, Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire
  • Adjaratou Traore Department of Medical Sciences, University of Alassane Ouattara, University Hospital Center (UHC) of Bouaké, Côte d’Ivoire
  • Wako-Tianwa Alice Tuo Epouse Benie Department of Medical Sciences, University of Alassane Ouattara, University Hospital Center (UHC) of Bouaké, Côte d’Ivoire
  • Koffi Maïzan Jean Paul Bouatenin Department of Food Science and Technology, Laboratory of Biotechnology and Food Microbiology (LMBM), University of Nangui-Abrogoua, Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire
  • Kraidy Athanase Otchoumou Department of Biosciences, Laboratory of Biotechnology, Agriculture and valorization of Biological Resources, University of Félix Houphouët Boigny, Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire
  • Aya Carole Bonny Department of Biosciences, Laboratory of Biotechnology, Agriculture and valorization of Biological Resources, University of Félix Houphouët Boigny, Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire
  • Kossa Marie Josée Yao Department of Food Science and Technology, Laboratory of Biotechnology and Food Microbiology (LMBM), University of Nangui-Abrogoua, Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire
  • Anoh Xavier Kouamelan Department of Food Science and Technology, Laboratory of Biotechnology and Food Microbiology (LMBM), University of Nangui-Abrogoua, Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire
  • Nohya Delvina Okondza University Denis SASSOU NGUESSO, Human Nutrition Laboratory and Quality Control
  • Dissinviel Stéphane Kpoda University Center of ZINIARE/Joseph Ki-Zerbo University, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
  • Koua Atobla Department of Biosciences, Laboratory of Biotechnology, Agriculture and valorization of Biological Resources, University of Félix Houphouët Boigny, Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire and  Department of Food Science and Technology, Laboratory of Biotechnology and Food Microbiology (LMBM), University of Nangui-Abrogoua, Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire
  • Nathalie Guessennd Department of Biosciences, Laboratory of Biotechnology, Agriculture and valorization of Biological Resources, University of Félix Houphouët Boigny, Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire and Department of Bacteriology and Virology, Institut Pasteur of Côte d'Ivoire (IPCI), Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire
  • Camara Fatoumata Epouse Fadika Department of Food Science and Technology, Laboratory of Biotechnology and Food Microbiology (LMBM), University of Nangui-Abrogoua, Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire
  • Adjéhi Dadie Department of Food Science and Technology, Laboratory of Biotechnology and Food Microbiology (LMBM), University of Nangui-Abrogoua, Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire and Department of Bacteriology and Virology, Institut Pasteur of Côte d'Ivoire (IPCI), Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14738/ejas.1405.12182

Keywords:

Cola nitida, mecA gene, MRSA, resistance, S. aureus

Abstract

MRSA infections are an increasingly concerning phenomenon and a major challenge in human and animal health. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) isolated from Cola nitida nuts. A total of 200 cola nuts, comprising 100 red and 100 white varieties, were included in the study. Bacteriological and biochemical methods were used to isolate and identify S. aureus on Baird-Parker agar, respectively. The resistance level of the S. aureus strains was determined by the disk diffusion method on Muller-Hinton agar. The mecA gene, encoding methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA), was detected by PCR. The contamination rate of the different kola nuts by S. aureus was 40.5%, with a prevalence of 37.0% (Cola nitida white) and 51% (Cola nitida white). S. aureus isolates from Cola nitida produced deoxyribonuclease (DNase) (69.1%) and coagulase (50.6%). These strains were resistant to oxacillin (43.2%), cefoxitin (41.6%), amoxicillin (28.8%), erythromycin (24.4%), ciprofloxacin (23.2%), vancomycin (21.1%), levofloxacin (17.7%), and tetracycline (16.5%). The overall prevalence of the mecA gene was 52.70% in S. aureus isolated from Cola nitida, with a sensitivity of 100% for cefoxitin and 58.1% for oxacillin. The presence of S. aureus and MRSA in kola nuts underscores the need for enhanced surveillance and improved hygiene practices to reduce the risk of epidemics.

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Published

2026-09-09

How to Cite

Benie, C. K. D., Yapi, A. P., Konate, M., Aka-Gbezo, S., Traore, A., Tuo Epouse Benie, W.-T. A., … Dadie, A. (2026). Prevalence of mecA Gene in Multi-resistant Staphylococcus aureus Isolated from Cola nitida Varieties in Côte d’Ivoire. European Journal of Applied Sciences, 14(05), 48–59. https://doi.org/10.14738/ejas.1405.12182

Issue

Vol. 14 No. 05 (2026): European Journal of Applied Sciences

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Articles

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Copyright (c) 2026 Comoé Koffi Donatien Benie, Amin Paulin Yapi, Moussa Konate, Solange Aka-Gbezo, Adjaratou Traore, Wako-Tianwa Alice Tuo Epouse Benie, Koffi Maïzan Jean Paul Bouatenin, Kraidy Athanase Otchoumou, Aya Carole Bonny, Kossa Marie Josée Yao, Anoh Xavier Kouamelan, Nohya Delvina Okondza, Dissinviel Stéphane Kpoda, Koua Atobla, Nathalie Guessennd, Camara Fatoumata Epouse Fadika, Adjéhi Dadie

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