Staphylococcus argenteus: an emerging foodborne pathogen?

Staphylococcus argenteus is an emerging species of the S. aureus complex (SAC) with increasing clinical importance and a global distribution. It is more and more clear that S. argenteus shares the majority of the S. aureus core and accessory genes, especially those encoding virulence determinants, of which the staphylococcal enterotoxins (SEs) are a major cause of foodborne illnesses, and were previously thought to be mainly produced by S. aureus. Recently, the causative pathogen in three food intoxication cases in Japan was found to be S. argenteus. Current knowledge indicates that S. argenteus may thus be as a foodborne pathogen. Here, we review the advances in knowledge on S. argenteus with highlights on its potential hazard for food consumers.