¹Biruni University, Faculty of Medicine, Medical Microbiology Department, TR-34015 Zeytinburnu, İstanbul - TÜRKİYE
²Republic of Türkiye, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Veterinary Control Central Research Institute, TR-06020 Etlik, Ankara - TÜRKİYE
³University of Health Sciences, Umraniye Education and Research Hospital, Medical Microbiology, TR-34764 Ümraniye, İstanbul - TÜRKİYE
⁴Bahcesehir University, Faculty of Medicine, Medical Microbiology Department, TR-34734 Kadıköy, İstanbul - TÜRKİYE
⁵University of Health Sciences, Haydarpasa Numune Education and Research Hospital, Medical Microbiology, TR-34668 Ümraniye, İstanbul - TÜRKİYE
⁶Kirklareli University, Faculty of Medicine, Medical Microbiology Department, TR-39000 Kırklareli - TÜRKİYE
⁷University of Health Sciences, Ankara Health Application and Research Centre, Medical Microbiology Department, TR-06800 Bilkent, Ankara - TÜRKİYE DOI : 10.9775/kvfd.2024.32896 Although there has been extensive research on the presence of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) in raw milk samples, new data on the prevalence and molecular characterization of Coagulase-negative Staphylococci (CoNS) are needed. This study aimed to compare the antimicrobial profiles, virulence genes, and SCCmec types distribution between S. aureus and CoNS isolated from one hundred and fifty raw cow milk samples in Istanbul. Staphylococcus isolates were identified using VITEK MS following classical culture methods. Phenotypic antibiotic susceptibility was determined using the disc diffusion method. In-house PCR was employed to detect resistance genes, while multiplex PCR and qPCR were utilized for SCCmec typing and virulence genes such as SEs, respectively. Out of the seventy-five contaminated samples (50%), 32% harbored S. aureus, and 68% were CoNS. Methicillin resistance was identified in 10.6% of S. aureus and 14.6% of CoNS. SCCmec type IV predominated in both MRSA (50%) and MRCoNS (54.5%). At least one toxin gene was present in 83.3% of S. aureus and 22.4% of CoNS isolates, with sei being the most frequently observed. None of the S. aureus isolates tested positive for the sed, see, and pvl genes. Similarly, the sea, sed, see, tsst-1, and pvl genes were not detected in any of the CoNS isolates. As a conclusion, SCCmec type IV and sei gene predominated and community-acquired resistance patterns were prominent in Staphylococcus strains, which carried various virulence and resistance genes. Beyond MRSA, the presence of MRCoNS should be considered and monitored as a significant public health concern in raw milk. Keywords : CoNS, Raw milk, SCCmec types, Staphylococcus aureus, Virulence genes