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Page No. : 89-91

ABSTRACT

A total of 123 samples of fruits and vegetables, commonly used for salad were collected and analysed for the presence of Staphylococcus aureus by conventional and molecular assay targeting 16SrRNA. S. aureus was detected in 73 (59.53%) samples by PCR. The presence of S. aureus in different vegetables and fruits samples were found as radish (88.89%), carrot (66.67%), tomato (75.0%), papaya (42.86%), cucumber (60.0%), grapes (81.81%), coriander leaves (75.0%), pine apple (37.50%), beat root (60.0%), water melon (55.56%), banana (37.50%), onion (50.0%), green chilli (62.50%) and lemon (25.0%). It may be concluded that S. aureus is widely prevalent among fruits and vegetables used as raw salad food thus it requires strict hygienic measures to prevent potential health hazards.

Keywords: Fruits, salad, Staphylococcus aureus, vegetables, 16SrRNA PCR.