Comparison of Austrian, Hungarian and Macedonian methicillin-resistant and methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus strains in relation to prevalence of cytotoxin genes

Cytotoxin genes in 128 Austrian (AT) MSSA, 48 MRSA, 94 Hungarian (HU) MSSA, 110 MRSA and 67 Macedonian (MK) MSSA, 81 MRSA strains were examined. The presence of alfa-haemolysin gene (hla) was more common in HU MSSA strains compared to AT and MK (99%, 86%, 72%: p < 0.001). AT and MK MRSA harboured hlb genes more frequently compared to HU (60%, 62%, 33%: p < 0.001). HU and MK MRSA strains carried gamma-haemolysin gene (hlg) in higher percentage in contrast to AT (88%, 83%, 69%: p = 0.01). Haemolysin gamma-variant gene (hlgv) was more prevalent in HU MSSA compared to AT and MK (84%, 56%, 69%: p < 0.001). Panton–Valentine leukocidin genes were found only in AT, HU, MK MSSA and MK MRSA in 2.3%, 4%, 1.5% (p = 0.53) and 1% (p = 0.38), respectively. The 3-gene combination pattern comprising of hla, hlg and hld genes showed increased prevalence among AT MSSA compared to HU (27%, 11%: p < 0.001). The 4-gene pattern composed of hla, hlg, hlgv and hld genes was significantly characteristic for HU MRSA in contrast to AT and MK MRSA (56%, 12.5%, 27%: p < 0.001). Frequency of certain cytotoxin genes and combinations differed significantly in Staphylococcus aureus strains according to geographical origin and methicillin-resistance.