Staphylococcus aureus is a causative agent of acute and infectious diarrhoea. In Africa, there is no sufficient information on the virulence and the degree of factors produced by its diarrhoea-isolated strains. Clinical features and virulence factors produced by S. aureus isolated from diarrhoeal-patients admitted at the Hospital Hubert Koutoukou Maga (HKM) in Cotonou was investigated. The virulence factors were screened by radial immunoprecipitation and multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR).Fifteen antibiotics were tested. Among independent 115 patients examined for diarrhoea, 32 had faeces positive for S. aureus isolated as pure culture. Most of these patients were hospitalized (21/32) and developed aqueous, bloody and painful diarrhoea, after antimicrobial therapy. About 62% were resistant to oxacillin. Genes encoding for clumping factor B and for laminin binding protein were detected in 62% of S. aureus isolates. About 94% of LukE-LukD producing strains have been isolated from patientsdeveloping post-antibiotic associated diarrhoea (PAAD). The Panton-Valentine Leucocidin (PVL) was produced by 19% of isolates, all from PAAD. This study points out new data concerning virulencefactors and adhesion factor produced by S. aureus strains isolated from diarrhoea in Benin. The culture of the faeces will not always allow the diagnosis. It is important to update a technique, which enablesresearchers to carry out the virulence factors produced by these bacteria
