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Oral Transmission of Listeria monocytogenes in Mice via Ingestion of Contaminated Food
08:38

Oral Transmission of Listeria monocytogenes in Mice via Ingestion of Contaminated Food

Published on: May 6, 2013

Antimicrobial resistance of Listeria monocytogenes isolated from a poultry further processing plant

Steven A Lyon1, Mark E Berrang, Paula J Fedorka-Cray

  • 1USDA-ARS-BEARU-Russell Research Center, Athens, Georgia 30604-5677, USA.

Foodborne Pathogens and Disease
|June 21, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Antimicrobial resistance in Listeria monocytogenes from poultry plants is generally low. Distinct Listeria monocytogenes types, identified by actA sequencing, do not predict resistance, except possibly for tetracycline.

Area of Science:

  • Food microbiology
  • Antimicrobial resistance
  • Molecular typing

Background:

  • Listeria monocytogenes is a significant foodborne pathogen.
  • Poultry processing environments are potential reservoirs for L. monocytogenes.
  • Understanding antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in foodborne pathogens is crucial for public health.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare antimicrobial resistance profiles of different Listeria monocytogenes types.
  • To investigate the relationship between Listeria monocytogenes actA types and AMR.
  • To assess AMR prevalence in L. monocytogenes from a commercial poultry cooking plant.

Main Methods:

  • Isolation and identification of Listeria monocytogenes.
  • Molecular typing using actA gene sequencing to differentiate L. monocytogenes strains.
  • Antimicrobial susceptibility testing using broth microdilution for 19 drugs.

Main Results:

  • Low prevalence of antimicrobial resistance was observed across all actA types.
  • High resistance rates were noted for ceftriaxone (97%) and oxacillin with 2% NaCl (90%).
  • Tetracycline resistance was found in 5 isolates, all belonging to a single actA type in lineage II.

Conclusions:

  • Antimicrobial resistance is not highly prevalent in L. monocytogenes from poultry processing environments.
  • actA sequencing is not a reliable predictor of AMR in L. monocytogenes, with the exception of potential tetracycline resistance.
  • Persistent L. monocytogenes types in poultry plants are not linked to antimicrobial resistance, suggesting AMR does not influence strain persistence.

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