ABSTRACT
          Background and Objectives: Determining the genetic relationship between S. aureus isolates is important for epidemiological surveillance and control of infections caused by this bacterium. The present study was conducted to determine polymorphisms of coagulase gene (coa) among S. aureus isolates from pastry and cheese samples using restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis.
         Methods: Overall, 65 S. aureus isolated from pastry (n=45) and cheese (n=20) samples were examined for the coa gene by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). PCR products were digested with AluI enzyme and the products were assessed using gel electrophoresis.
          Results: Except for two isolates, all isolates were positive in coa-PCR and produced four different PCR products, with molecular sizes ranging from 570 to 970 bp. Overall; five distinct RFLP patterns were detected (I-V). Although pattern types I and III were present in isolates from both samples, types I and IV were mainly present in isolates from cheese and pastry samples, respectively.
        Conclusion: PCR-RFLP analysis of the coa gene indicates that S. aureus isolates from pastry and cheese samples may be originated from different sources. However, as one pattern type was predominant in each group, it can be concluded that majority of the isolates may have the same origin.
          Keywords: Staphylococcus aureus, PCR-RFLP, Coagulase, Pastry, Cheese.