Prevalence, Antimicrobial Resistance, and Distribution of Toxin Genes in Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) from Retail Meat and Fruit and Vegetable Cuts in the United Arab Emirates

Ihab Habib^1,2*Mohamed Yousif Ibrahim Mohamed²Glindya Lakshmi²Febin Anes²Richard V Goering^3*Muhtaq Khan^2*Abiola Senok^4*

• ¹Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Food and Agriculture, United Arab Emirates University, AlAin, United Arab Emirates
• ²United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
• ³creighton, creighton, United States
• ⁴Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

This study investigated the prevalence, antimicrobial resistance profiles, and toxin gene distribution of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) isolated from retail foods of animal and plant origin in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE). A total of 260 food samples, including beef, sheep, camel, chicken meat, and ready-to-eat fruits and vegetable cuts, were collected from major supermarkets. MRSA screening involved enrichment culture followed by dual confirmation using MALDI-TOF MS for species identification and triplex PCR to detect the mecA gene. MRSA was detected in 47.7% of the samples, with the highest prevalence observed in chicken meat (75%), followed by camel (55%) and beef (45.7%). Fruit and vegetable cuts had lower contamination rates (16.7% and 30%). Logistic regression analysis showed significant associations between product forms and MRSA contamination, notably higher in minced beef (78.5% (22/28)) compared to other forms. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing of 87 MRSA isolates revealed universal resistance to β-lactam antibiotics. Resistance patterns varied significantly across food groups for gentamicin, ciprofloxacin, erythromycin, and tetracycline. Multidrug resistance (≥3 classes) presented in 69/87 isolates (79.3 %) and was extensive (≥4 classes) in camel (75 %) and beef (65.4 %). Enterotoxin genes occurred in 37/87 isolates (42.5 %); staphylococcal enterotoxin type A predominated (29.1 %). Exfoliative toxin gene type A frequency differed by food type, and was highest in vegetable cuts. Dual toxin profiles were rare (4.6 %). UAE retail foods, particularly chicken and camel meat, are a reservoir of MDR, toxigenic MRSA. These findings underscore the One Health implications of MRSA as a foodborne hazard in the UAE, reinforcing the need for coordinated, cross-sector surveillance and intervention strategies to safeguard human, animal, and environmental health.