African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 2 (8), pp. 246-250, August 2003

ISSN 1684-5315  © 2003 Academic Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Genetic fingerprinting and phylogenetic diversity of Staphylococcus aureus isolates from Nigeria

Onasanya A.^1,2*, Mignouna H.D^2,α and Thottappilly G.^2,۸

¹Department of Microbiology, Federal University of Technology Akure, Akure, Nigeria.

²International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, PMB 5320, Ibadan, Nigeria.

*Corresponding author; Present address: West Africa Rice Development Association, BP 320, Bamako, Mali. Tel.: 223 222 33 75. Fax: 223 222 86 83, E-mail address: a.onasanya@cgiar.org.

^αPresent address: Virginia State University Agricultural Research Station Box 9061 Petersburg, VA 23806, USA.

^۸Present address: Mahyco Research Foundation, Kamalapuri colony, Hyderabad- 500073, India.

Accepted 23 July 2003

Genetic fingerprinting of 18 different isolates of Staphylococcus aureus from Nigeria using random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) was carried out. Ten out of 100 Operon primers showed polymorphism among the isolates tested generating 88 bands, 51 of which were polymorphic with sizes ranging between 200 and 3,000 bp. All the isolates were classified completely into two major groups (Sa-1 and Sa-2) with twelve different subgroups. Sa-1 group originated from human while isolates from plant and animal origins formed the Sa-2 group. The twelve different subgroups suggest adaptation of S. aureus in the different host cells. This indicates possible relationship between host origin and genetic variation among S. aureus isolates. The DNA fingerprint defined for each race of S. aureus could be useful in epidemiological studies, medical diagnosis and the identification of new strains and their origins.

Keywords: Staphylococcus aureus, foodborne-acquired infections, genetic fingerprinting; phylogenetic diversity, RAPD, polymorphism.