SpaDiversity among MRSA and MSSA Strains ofStaphylococcus aureusin North of Iran
Protein A ofStaphylococcus aureusis a pathogenic factor whose encoding gene,spa, shows a variation in length in different strains. In this study thespagene variation inS. aureusisolated from healthy carriers and patients was studied, We also compared this variation among MRSA with MSSA strains. 208 strains ofStaphylococcus aureuswhich we were isolated from Gorgan, north of Iran were studied, 121 cases from patients and 87 cases from healthy carriers, 59 out of them wereMRSAand 149MSSA. Samples DNA were extracted and amplified by specific primer ofspagene. In 4 (3.8%) strains of them nospagene was detected, and 10.6% had a dual band (1200 and 1400 bp). In strains with one band, the length ofspagene differed from 1150 to 1500 bp. The most prevalent length was 1350–1400 bp (37%). The frequencies of shortspabands (1150–1200 bp) in patients strains were significantly higher. In 4 (3.8%) strains of them nospagene was detected, and 10.6% had a dual band (1200 and 1400 bp). In strains with one band, the length ofspagene differed from 1150 to 1500 bp. The most prevalent length was 1350–1400 bp (37%). The frequencies of shortspabands (1150–1200 bp) in patients strains were significantly higher. Thespagene length of 1350–1400 bp in MSSA was more than in MRSA strains (P<.05). The average length ofspain isolated strains from urinary tract infections was more than others. It is concluded that the length ofspagene depends either on resistance to Methicillin or the source ofS. aureusisolation.