author(s)
Dipanjali Paul, E Motina, Devajani Deka, TK Dutta, NS Singh and Joy Lalmuanpuia

abstract
The present study aimed the molecular detection and antibiotic sensitivity of Staphylococcus aureus in raw cow milk samples collected from Aizawl district of Mizoram. A total of 90 numbers of raw milk samples were collected randomly from different sources. Staphylococcus aureus has been presumptively identified using conventional bacteriological technique and confirmed by molecular detection of species specific nuc gene. The antibiotic sensitivity was studied against 20 numbers of antibiotics commonly used in animals and humans. Based on conventional and molecular detection, 39(43.33%) milk samples were found to be contaminated with S. aureus out of which 21(53.84%) numbers were found to be positive for staphylococcal enterotoxin gene A (sea) and 2(5.12%) were positive for methicillin resistance gene (mecA). The S. aureus strains were 100% sensitive to amoxyclav and highest resistant to ampicillin and muprirocin (66.67%).