Staphylococcus aureus is one of the most common pathogens associated with food poisoning, which is caused by the ingestion of food contaminated with staphylococcal enterotoxins (SE). Our study aims at evaluating the occurrence and expression of five SE genes (sea, seb, sec, sed, and see) in S. aureus previously isolated from broiler carcasses. Besides that, it also presents an in vitro analysis of the effects of sodium chloride and temperature on the levels of transcriptional expression. A total of 30 S. aureus isolates were investigated for the presence of SEs by PCR assay. The expression level and the effects of sodium chloride (2.5% NaCl), as well as temperature (8 ºC and 12 ºC), on the transcriptional expression, were evaluated by a quantitative reverse transcription PCR (RT-qPCR). Twelve isolates carried at least one of the SE genes. Among them, five representative isolates presented transcriptional expression for at least one gene. Both sodium chloride and low temperatures interfered with the expression of the SE genes, decreasing their values. However, one isolate displayed relative expression 2.25 times higher for sed gene than S. aureus FRI 361 in optimal conditions (p < 0.05), demonstrating their toxigenic potential even under salt stress. There was no evidence of enterotoxin gene expression at 8 ºC.

金黄色葡萄球菌是与食物中毒相关的最常见病原体之一，它是由摄入被葡萄球菌肠毒素（SE）污染的食物引起的。我们的研究旨在评估五种 SE 基因（sea、seb、sec、sed和see）在先前从肉鸡胴体中分离的金黄色葡萄球菌中的发生和表达。除此之外，它还对氯化钠和温度对转录表达水平的影响进行了体外分析。共 30 个金黄色葡萄球菌通过 PCR 分析研究分离株中 SE 的存在。通过定量逆转录 PCR (RT-qPCR) 评估表达水平和氯化钠 (2.5% NaCl) 以及温度 (8 ºC 和 12 ºC) 对转录表达的影响。十二个分离株携带至少一个 SE 基因。其中，五个具有代表性的分离株呈现出至少一个基因的转录表达。氯化钠和低温都干扰了 SE 基因的表达，降低了它们的值。然而，在最佳条件下，一种分离株的sed基因相对表达量比金黄色葡萄球菌FRI 361高 2.25 倍（ p < 0.05），即使在盐胁迫下也证明了它们的产毒潜力。没有证据表明在 8 ºC 时有肠毒素基因表达。