Determination of Listeria monocytogenes contamination and investigation of the frequency of virulence and antibiotic resistance genes in ready-to-eat foods

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Department of Food Hygiene, Shahrekord Branch, Islamic Azad University, Shahrekord, Iran

2 Assistant Professor, Nutrition and Organic Products Research Center, Shahrekord Branch, Islamic Azad University, Shahrekord, Iran

Abstract

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Listeria monocytogenes is a dangerous foodborne pathogen that causes listeriosis in immunocompromised individuals, the elderly, and pregnant women, and has become a serious public health issue along with antimicrobial resistance (AMR). The focus of this study is on determining Listeria monocytogenes contamination and investigation of the frequency of virulence and antibiotic resistance genes in ready-to-eat foods. In this study, 180 food samples including salad dressing, chicken nuggets, meat nuggets, chicken sandwiches, sausage sandwiches, and chicken schnitzel were randomly sampled from distribution centers in Falavarjan County, Isfahan Province and transported to the laboratory. The results showed that the prevalence of Listeria monocytogenes infection was 13 samples (7.22%) and the highest frequency of antibiotic resistance genes was related to the strA gene (100%) and ermA (84.61%). The prevalence of ermB, tetS, tetA and ermC genes in the studied Listeria monocytogenes strain was 38.46%, 46.15%, zero and zero, respectively. PCR results showed that out of 13 food samples contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, 2 samples (1.11%) were related to the inlA gene. Antibiotic results showed that the highest resistance was related to penicillin and ampicillin with 100% resistance and the lowest resistance was related to chloramphenicol and imipenem with 100% sensitivity. The results showed that RTE foods can carry Listeria monocytogenes, which in the event of infections caused by it, the use of antibiotics should be arbitrarily limited.
 
 

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References

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Journal of Veterinary Laboratory Research
Volume 17, Issue 1 - Serial Number 27
in processing
April 2025
Pages 51-61

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