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Oral Transmission of Listeria monocytogenes in Mice via Ingestion of Contaminated Food
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Predominance and Distribution of a Persistent Listeria monocytogenes Clone in a Commercial Fresh Mushroom Processing

Latha Murugesan1, Zuzana Kucerova2, Stephen J Knabel1

  • 1Department of Food Science, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, USA.

Journal of Food Protection
|November 12, 2015
PubMed

Insights

Listeria monocytogenes, particularly serotype 1/2c (VT11), was prevalent in a mushroom processing facility. Improved sanitation significantly reduced contamination, demonstrating the effectiveness of targeted cleaning for Listeria control.

Area of Science:

  • Food Safety
  • Microbiology
  • Environmental Monitoring

Background:

  • Listeria spp. are significant foodborne pathogens.
  • Fresh produce processing environments can harbor Listeria.
  • Understanding Listeria prevalence is crucial for food safety.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the prevalence and persistence of Listeria spp. in a commercial mushroom slicing and packaging environment.
  • To identify specific Listeria monocytogenes serotypes and virulence types.
  • To assess the impact of improved sanitation on Listeria contamination.

Main Methods:

  • Longitudinal environmental sampling over 13 months.
  • Isolation and identification of Listeria spp.
  • Serotyping and multi-virulence-locus sequence typing (MVST) of Listeria monocytogenes isolates.
  • Statistical analysis of contamination prevalence before and after sanitation improvements.

Main Results:

  • Listeria monocytogenes was detected in 18.8% of samples, with serotype 1/2c (VT11) being predominant and persistent.
  • L. monocytogenes was frequently found on wet floors in washing and packaging areas.
  • Improved sanitation procedures led to a significant reduction in L. monocytogenes prevalence (from 17.8% and 30.7% to 8.5%).

Conclusions:

  • A specific clone of L. monocytogenes (VT11) likely colonized the mushroom processing environment.
  • Targeted cleaning and sanitizing procedures are effective in reducing L. monocytogenes contamination.
  • Further research is needed to understand the persistence mechanisms of VT11.

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