Listeria monocytogenes contamination in French breeding and fattening turkey flocks

This study aimed to collect data and create a database related to Listeria monocytogenes contamination in breeding and fattening turkey flocks. Seventy-five breeding turkey flocks and 86 fattening turkey flocks were sampled. Three hundred seventy-five and 428 samples were analyzed in breeding and fattening turkey flocks, respectively. L. monocytogenes was detected in 9 of 75 breeding flocks, leading to an estimated prevalence of 12% (95% confidence interval, 4.6-19.4). In fattening turkeys, the prevalence of L. monocytogenes-positive flocks was 9.3% (95% confidence interval, 3.1-15.5). The serotyping of L. monocytogenes strains highlighted the dominance of serovar 1/2a in breeding as well as in fattening turkeys. The relationship between rearing practices and L. monocytogenes status in turkey flocks was studied by using multiple correspondence analyses and then a hierarchical classification. Results were separated into two classes and revealed profiles that were associated with the presence or the absence of L. monocytogenes. This study highlighted the need to implement strict sanitary measures to reduce the risk of L. monocytogenes contamination in turkey production.