Detection of multiple virulence-associated genes in Listeria monocytogenes isolated from bovine mastitis cases

Clinical samples (n=725) were collected from bovines (n=243) which were positive for mastitis using the California mastitis test (CMT) and somatic cell count (SCC). The clinical samples comprising blood (n=239), milk (n=243), and faecal swabs (n=243) were examined for the presence of pathogenic Listeria spp. Isolation of the pathogen was done using selective enrichment in University of Vermont Medium and plating onto Dominguez-Rodriguez isolation agar. Confirmation of the isolates was based on biochemical tests and Christie, Atkins, Munch-Petersen (CAMP) test followed by pathogenicity testing. Pathogenicity of the isolates was tested by phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C (PI-PLC) assay as well as in vivo tests namely, chick embryo and mice inoculation tests. The isolates were subjected to PCR assay for five virulence-associated genes, plcA, prfA, hlyA, actA and iap. Listeria spp. were isolated from 12 (1.66%) samples. Of these 4 (0.55%) and 1 (0.14%) were confirmed as Listeria monocytogenes and Listeria ivanovii, respectively. L. monocytogenes and L. ivanovii were recovered from milk samples (2) and faecal (3) of mastitic cattle (3) and buffaloes (2). L. monocytogenes recovered from the milk of mastitic cattle and L. ivanovii from the faecal swab of buffalo turned out to be pathogenic. However, the remaining three hemolytic isolates exhibiting positive CAMP test turned out to be negative in PI-PLC assay, chick embryo and mice inoculation. L. monocytogenes and L. ivanovii isolates characterized as pathogenic by PI-PLC assay and in vivo pathogenicity tests were found to possess all the five virulence-associated genes and three genes, plcA, prfA and actA respectively. The remaining three hemolytic but non-pathogenic L. monocytogenes isolates were negative for plcA by PCR. It seems that the plcA gene and its expression (in the PI-PLC assay) have an important role as virulence determinants in pathogenic Listeria spp. In conclusion, the PI-PLC assay and virulence genes targeted PCR (plcA, prfA and hlyA genes for L. monocytogenes and plcA, prfA and actA genes for L. ivanovii) hold a good promise as rapid and reliable in vitro alternatives to in vivo pathogenicity tests.     

Rabbit meat as a source of bacterial foodborne pathogens

Even though worldwide production of rabbit meat is >1,000,000 tons, little information is available for rabbit meat microbiology. This study provides data on the prevalence of Salmonella, Escherichia coli O157:H7, Yersinia enterocolitica, Listeria spp., motile Aeromonas spp., and Staphylococcus aureus on rabbit meat. A total of 24 rabbit carcasses from two abattoirs and 27 rabbit meat packages from supermarket displays were examined. In addition to culturing methods, associated virulence genes were investigated by PCR in suspect isolates and samples. Neither Salmonella nor E. coli O157:H7 was detected. All samples were negative for virulence-associated invA, stx1, and stx2 genes. At one abattoir, two carcasses (3.9%) carried Y. enterocolitica yst-, and two were positive for the yst gene, although viable Y. enterocolitica cells were not recovered from these samples. Seven samples (13.7%) were contaminated with Listeria. Of them, three were positive for hly and iap genes (Listeria monocytogenes hly+ / iap+), two carried Listeria seeligeri, one carried Listeria ivanovii, and one carried Listeria innocua. For detectable motile Aeromonas spp. (average count, 1.77 +/- 0.62 log CFU/g), the contamination rate was 35.3%, although ca. 90% of the samples were positive for the aerA and/or hlyA genes. The majority of aeromonad isolates were Aeromonas hydrophila aerA+ / hlyA+. Aeromonas caviae, Aeromonas popoffii, Aeromonas schubertii, and the two biovars of Aeromonas veronii were also isolated. The prevalence of S. aureus contamination (average count, 1.37 +/- 0.79 log CFU/g) was 52.9%. Among 27 S. aureus isolates, two harbored genes for staphylococcal enterotoxin B (seb), and two harbored genes for staphylococcal enterotoxin C (sec). The remaining isolates were negative for sea, seb, sec, sed, and see.     

Genetic homogeneity among Listeria monocytogenes strains from infected patients and meat products from two geographic locations determined by phenotyping,ribotyping and PCR analysis of virulence genes

Thirty Listeria monocytogenes isolates from human patients and foods originated from two different geographic locations without any epidemiological relations were analyzed for their genotypic and phenotypic virulence gene expressions and genetic relatedness. All strains contained virulence genes, inlA, inlB, actA, hlyA, plcA and plcB, with expected product size in PCR assay except for the actA gene. Some strains produced actA gene product of 268 and others 385 bp. Phenotypically, all were hemolytic but showed variable expressions of phospholipase activity. Ribotyping classified isolates into 12 different groups based on the similarity to DuPont Identification numbers (DID), which consisted primarily of clinical or food isolates or both. Cluster analysis also indicated possible existence of clones of L. monocytogenes that are found in food or human hosts or are evenly distributed between these two. Two isolates (F1 from food and CHL1250 from patient) had unique ribotype patterns that were not previously reported in the RiboPrinter database. This study indicates distribution of diverse L. monocytogenes strains in clinical and food environments. The isolates showed 92-99% genetic homogeneity, in spite of their origins from two different geographic locations and environments.     

Incidence and characterization of Listeria spp. from foods available in Korea

A total of 410 domestic Korean food samples were analyzed for the presence of Listeria spp. by the conventional U.S. Department of Agriculture protocol, and presumptive strains were identified by morphological, cultural and biochemical tests according to Bergey's manual and confirmed by API-Listeria kit. Among the total 410 food samples, 46 samples (11.2%) were found to be contaminated with Listeria species. Among the 46 strains of Listeria spp. isolates, 8 strains (17.42%) for Listeria monocytogenes, 3 strains (6.5%) for Listeria seeligeri, 33 strains (71.7%) for Listeria innocua, and 2 strains (4.4%) for Listeria welshimeri were identified, respectively. Also, only beef, chicken, pork, frozen foods, and sausage were contaminated with L. monocytogenes, and the other products were free of L. monocytogenes. Of 46 Listeria spp. isolates, L. innocua (71.7%) was the most predominantly isolated in a variety of foods compared to other Listeria spp. An in vitro virulence assay for Listeria spp. using myeloma and hybridoma cells from murine and human sources was performed. The result showed that only L. monocytogenes killed approximately 95 to 100% hybridoma cells after 6 h and the other Listeria species, such as L. innocua, L. seeligeri, and L. welshimeri strains had about 0 to 10% lethal effect on hybridoma cells. Also, an antibiotic susceptibility test showed that Listeria spp. isolates were very susceptible to the antibiotics tested, except for nalidixic acid. Also, serotyping results showed 75% of L. monocytogenes isolates from beef, chicken, and frozen pizza belonged to serotype 1 and 25% from sausage were type 4.     

单增李斯特菌毒力因子多重荧光PCR法 建立与应用

目的建立同时检测单增李斯特菌(Listeria monocytogenes)及其3种毒力因子的多重荧光PCR快速检测方法,并应用于日常食品的检测。方法根据单增李斯特菌溶血素基因hly A、内化素基因inl A和表面蛋白act A基因的保守序列,分别设计合成特异性引物和探针,优化多重荧光PCR反应体系。对该方法的特异性、敏感性和重复性进行评估。结果该法特异性强、敏感性高,对单增李斯特菌纯培养物的最低检出限410cfu/m L;重复性好,变异系数均小于2%。对84份食品检测结果与传统国标法相符,共检出单增李斯特菌4份,检出率为4.76%。多重荧光PCR检测方法耗时1 h,比传统方法节约2~5 d。4株单增李斯特菌分离株中2株同时含有inl A、act A、hly A 3种毒力基因,另2株为毒力基因act A缺失株,提示目前流行株并非同一来源。结论本研究建立的多重实时荧光PCR方法能同时对单增李斯特菌及其3种毒力因子进行快速检测,且灵敏度高、特异性好,为食源性疾病的病原学检测提供了快速可靠的方法。     

Prevalence and contamination levels of Listeria monocytogenes in smoked fish and paté sold in Spain.

From March to November 2000, 170 samples of smoked fish and 182 samples of paté for sale in retail outlets and supermarkets in the nine provinces of Castilla and León (Spain) were analyzed for the prevalence of Listeria monocytogenes and other Listeria spp. L. monocytogenes was isolated from 38 (22.3%) of the 170 samples of smoked fish analyzed. Twenty of these positive samples contained L. monocytogenes at >100 CFU/g. Other Listeria spp., such as Listeria innocua (26 isolates), Listeria grayi (9), Listeria welshimeri (3), Listeria seeligeri (3), and Listeria ivanovii (2), were also detected. L. monocytogenes was isolated from 5.4% of the 182 samples of paté. Only 1 of the 10 positive samples harbored >100 L. monocytogenes CFU/g. Two other species of Listeria were observed in paté: L. innocua (12 isolates) and L. grayi (2).     

温州市单核细胞增生李斯特菌的毒力基因及血清学分型和分子分型研究

目的了解温州市近十年单核细胞增生李斯特菌分离株的血清型、毒力基因及分子分型特征。方法用聚合酶链式反应(PCR)方法对单核细胞增生李斯特菌进行血清型及毒力基因检测;用多位点序列分型(MLST)方法对单核细胞增生李斯特菌进行分子分型,并绘制MLST数据的最小生成树。结果 97株单核细胞增生李斯特菌分离株分为4种血清型,以血清型1/2b、1/2a为优势血清型,占比分别为48.45%(47/97)、35.05%(34/97);而毒力基因iap、prfA基因阳性率均为100.00%(97/97),hlyA、inlA基因阳性率均为97.94%(95/97),plcB基因阳性率为96.91%(94/97)。其中患者分离株5种毒力基因阳性率均为100.00%(6/6)。97株单核细胞增生李斯特菌分离株得到20个MLST型别,其中ST87型是优势型别,其次为ST121和ST9,ST1和ST779型是患者特有的,ST2、ST3、ST5型分布于食品和患者分离株。结论温州市不同来源的单核细胞增生李斯特菌分离株分子型别呈多态性,食品和患者分离株存在相同的ST型,且这些菌株大部分携带毒力基因,具有潜在的致病性,因此食品中单核细胞增生李斯特菌污染的潜在风险不容忽视。     

Incidence and susceptibility to antimicrobial agents of Listeria spp. and Listeria monocytogenes isolated from poultry carcasses in Porto,Portugal

The occurrence of Listeria spp. and Listeria monocytogenes in 63 samples of Portuguese poultry carcasses obtained from two local butcher shops and one canteen in the city of Porto, Portugal, and the susceptibility of these bacteria to antimicrobial agents allowed for use in human or animal therapeutics were evaluated. All poultry samples were contaminated with Listeria spp., and L. monocytogenes was isolated from 41% (26 of 63) of the samples. Other Listeria species, including L. innocua, L. welshimeri, and L. seeligeri, were also isolated from poultry samples. A multiplex polymerase chain reaction method was used for the identification of all of the Listeria isolates; this method showed total conformity with the conventional method of biochemical identification and proved to be more reliable, faster, and less arduous. In addition, high percentages of Listeria spp. (84%) and L. monocytogenes (73%) isolates were found to be resistant to one or more antimicrobial agents of different groups, and 12 different resistance profiles were recorded. The frequency of the resistance of L. monocytogenes isolates to enrofloxacin and clindamycin is notable. The results of this study suggest a high incidence of L. monocytogenes on Portuguese poultry products available for consumers and indicate that poultry could be a potential vehicle of foodborne infections due to strains of L. monocytogenes that are resistant to antimicrobial agents.     

Application of a multiplex polymerase chain reaction assay for the simultaneous confirmation of Listeria monocytogenes and other Listeria species in turkey sample surveillance

A multiplex polymerase chain reaction was developed to simultaneously identify Listeria monocytogenes and species of the genus Listeria. Two sets of primers were used, with the first amplifying a 938-bp region of the 16S rRNA gene that is highly conserved in all Listeria species and the second amplifying a 174-bp region of the listeriolysin (hlyA) gene of L. monocytogenes. Thus, isolates of Listeria spp. yield a single 938-bp product, whereas L. monocytogenes isolates yield both the 938-bp product and a 174-bp product. The specificity of the assay was verified with all six Listeria species and 11 serotypes of L. monocytogenes, as well as nonrelated bacteria. The multiplex PCR assay was used to determine the incidence of Listeria spp., especially L. monocytogenes, in mechanically separated turkey samples (n = 150 samples). L. monocytogenes strains were selected by using the University of Vermont two-step enrichment protocol and plating to selective Palcam agar. The multiplex PCR assay was used for verification of presumptive Listeria colonies. Approximately 38% of mechanically separated turkey samples (57 of 150) yielded L. monocytogenes; an additional 18% of these samples (27 of 150) harbored other Listeria spp. Fifty-one percent (29 of 57) of the L. monocytogenes isolates were of serogroup 1, 44% (25 of 57) were of serogroup 4, and 2% (1 of 57) were assigned to serogroups other than 1 and 4.     

单增李斯特菌prfA基因缺失菌株的构建及其生物学特性鉴定

单核细胞增生性李斯特菌(Listeria monocytogenes,Lm)是一种风险较高的食源性致病菌,其绝大多数毒力基因的表达均受到由prfA基因编码的PrfA(positive regulatory factorA)蛋白全部或部分调控。使用同源重组的方法敲除Lm野生菌株EGDe的prfA基因,并通过测定生长曲线、毒力基因表达和侵袭Caco-2细胞能力等探讨单缺失菌株EGDe-ΔprfA生物学特性。通过测定生长曲线显示prfA敲除株和野生型EGDe二者生长状态无差异;运用实时定量荧光聚合酶链式反应检测EGDe-ΔprfA的主要毒力基因表达,结果显示plcA、plcB毒力基因的表达量分别上升至原来的2.5倍和2倍,inlA、inlB、inlC、actA、vip等均呈下降趋势,prfA基因表达量趋向于零;侵袭Caco-2细胞结果显示EGDe-ΔprfA侵袭数为野生株的1/5。该基因缺失菌株的构建及生物学特性研究对食源性致病菌EGDe致病机理研究具有重要意义并且提供了重要材料。     

Application of the BAX for screening/genus Listeria polymerase chain reaction system for monitoring Listeria species in cold-smoked fish and in the smoked fish processing environment

The cold-smoked fish industry was used as a model for the development of a system for monitoring Listeria spp. in foods and in the food processing environment. A total of 214 samples including raw fish, fish during the cold-smoking process, finished product, and environmental samples were collected from three processing facilities over two visits to each facility. Samples were screened for Listeria spp. using the BAX for Screening/genus Listeria polymerase chain reaction system (PCR) and by culture. Listeria spp., confirmed by the API Listeria test strip or by a PCR assay targeting the L. monocytogenes hlyA gene, were isolated from a total of 89 (41.6%) samples. Of these, 80 samples also tested positive for Listeria spp. using the BAX system. Specifically, 42 (55.3%) environmental samples (n = 76), 11 (25.6%) raw materials samples (n = 43), 20 (35.1%) samples from fish in various stages of processing (n = 57), and 7 (18.4%) finished product samples (n = 38) tested positive for Listeria spp. using the BAX system. Five (4.0%) of the 125 culture-negative samples yielded BAX system-positive results. Listeria isolates from each of nine culture-positive/BAX system-negative samples yielded a positive reaction when tested in pure culture by the BAX system, suggesting that our false-negative results were likely due to the presence of low Listeria numbers in the initial enrichment as opposed to nonreacting isolates. The employment of alternative enrichment protocols, such as the two-step enrichment recommended by the manufacturer, may increase the sensitivity of the assay.     

Development of multilocus single strand conformation polymorphism (MLSSCP) analysis of virulence genes of Listeria monocytogenes and comparison with existing DNA typing methods

Development of rapid and simple typing methods is required for analyzing the distribution and contamination routes of food-borne pathogens. We established a simple typing method for Listeria monocytogenes using MLSSCP (Multilocus Single Strand Conformation Polymorphism) analysis. Four virulence genes, hlyA, iap, actA and inlB were amplified by PCR, digested with endonucleases and applied to gels for SSCP. As banding patterns have been shown to reflect even a single nucleotide difference, this method has a potential discriminatory power comparable to that of sequencing analysis. The 64 strains isolated from five meat processing plants were divided into 18 groups by this MLSSCP. Additionally, clustering obtained with this method showed strong correspondence with phylogenetic lineages I and II, and was achieved with much less expenditure in time and cost than is required for other methods, such as MLST. The validity of the MLSSCP lineage classification was confirmed by PFGE, AFLP and ribotyping results. This newly developed MLSSCP method is suitable when obtaining accurate results quickly and simply is crucial.     

台州市食源性单核细胞增生李斯特菌分子特征研究

目的了解台州市食品中分离的单核细胞增生李斯特菌的血清型、毒力基因以及基因分型情况,建立食源性单核细胞增生李斯特菌的分子特征本底信息,为食源性疾病的防治提供技术支持。方法对近几年从食品中分离的37株单核细胞增生李斯特菌进行多重PCR血清分型、9种毒力基因(prf A、inl A、inl B、iap、fla A、hly A、plc B、mpl和act A)PCR检测、PFGE基因分型,用Bio Numerics 6.6软件对分型数据进行聚类分析。结果 37株食源性单核细胞增生李斯特菌的血清型以1/2a或3a型别为主;所有菌株均检出4种以上毒力基因,有15株菌携带所有9种毒力基因;37株菌经Apa I酶切PFGE分型后,共得到22种带型,每种带型包含1~5株不等,相似度区间为67%~100%。结论台州市食源性单核细胞增生李斯特菌存在致病流行风险,建立的指纹图谱数据库可为食源性疾病的防治提供技术支持。     

INCIDENCE OF LISTERIA SPECIES IN INDIAN SEAFOODS AND MEAT

Thirty eight samples of fresh, frozen and dry seafoods and 27 samples of fresh and cold stored meat and meat products obtained from retail shops were examined for the presence of Listeria spp. Direct plating of the sample homogenate on Listeria Selective Agar (LSA) was compared with the two step enrichment method devised by Hao et al. for detecting Listeria spp. in vegetables. We report that modification of this methodology involving cold enrichment for 48 h in Brain Heart Infusion (BHI) at 10C followed by enrichment at 37C in Listeria enrichment broth (LE) resulted the enumeration of a large population of Listeria from flesh foods. Listeria isolates from fish and meat were identified by employing the cultural methods given in modified version of the Bacteriological Analytical Manual (Lovett and Hitchins 1988). Listeria spp. from seafoods were identified, with the order of predominance as L. grayi, L. innocua, L. murrayi, L. seeligeri. Samples of meat and their products were found to be contaminated mainly with L. innocua and L. murrayi. In contrast, screening of an independent batch of 20 fish and meat samples by adopting the PHLS (UK) method revealed predominance of L. grayi and L. seeligeri in fish and presence of additional species like L. seeligeri, L. ivanovii and L. welshimeri in meat products. None of the methods however could detect incidence of L. monocytogenes in any of the samples tested from local market in Bombay.     

Traceback identification of an ingredient (pork dewlap) as the possible source of Listeria monocytogenes serotype 4b contamination in raw chicken products

In surveys conducted on finished product samples from a single poultry processing plant in Spain, Listeria monocytogenes was found in 14 different uncooked products. To track contamination patterns, 77 L. monocytogenes isolates were characterized by PCR-based serotyping, pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) restriction analysis, and PCR-based allelic analysis of the virulence gene actA. Serotyping revealed that 12 isolates (15.6%) were of the L. monocytogenes serotype 4b complex (serotype 4b or the closely related serotypes 4d and 4e). A combination of endonucleases AscI and ApaI PFGE patterns yielded 15 different pulsotypes among all 77 tested isolates. All the serotype 4b isolates belonged to one pulsotype. Sequencing of the actA gene confirmed that all serotype 4b isolates corresponded to the same allelic subtype. The subtype was recovered from five product types, but its presence was not correlated with the production line or the date of isolation, suggesting a possible association of this strain with a common ingredient. This traceback investigation established that pork dewlap, an ingredient common to all the products contaminated with this strain, was the most probable source of L. monocytogenes 4b. The same 4b strain was isolated from four samples of pork dewlap from one specific supplier. After replacement of this contaminated ingredient in the fresh products, this strain of L. monocytogenes serotype 4b was not detected. This study confirms the effectiveness of molecular subtyping to control contamination by specific strains of L. monocytogenes and the importance of testing the different ingredients added to the food products.     

Occurrence and characterization of Listeria spp. in ready-to-eat retail foods from Vancouver, British Columbia

The occurrence of Listeria spp. and Listeria monocytogenes in retail RTE meat and fish products in Vancouver, British Columbia (B.C.) was investigated. To assess potential consumer health risk, recovered L. monocytogenes isolates were subjected to genotypic and phenotypic characterization. Conventional methods were used to recover Listeria spp. from deli meat (n = 40) and fish (n = 40) samples collected from 17 stores. Listeria spp. were recovered only from fish samples (20%); 5% harboured Listeria innocua, 5% had L. monocytogenes and 10% contained Listeria welshimeri. L. monocytogenes isolates serotyped as 1/2a and 1/2b, possessed dissimilar PFGE patterns, and had full-length InlA. Three 1/2a clonal isolates encoded the 50 kb genomic island, LGI1. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) profiling showed all Listeria spp. possessed resistance to cefoxitin and nalidixic acid. L. monocytogenes were resistant to clindamycin, two were resistant to streptomycin, and one to amikacin. Reduced susceptibility to ciprofloxacin was seen in all L. monocytogenes, L. innocua and three L. welshimeri isolates. Reduced susceptibility to amikacin and chloramphenicol was also observed in one L. monocytogenes and three L. welshimeri isolates, respectively. Recovery of L. monocytogenes in fish samples possessing AMR, full-length InlA, LGI1, and serotypes frequently associated with listeriosis suggest B.C. consumers are exposed to high-risk strains.     

Occurrence and Antimicrobial Susceptibility of Listeria monocytogenes Isolated from Brined White Cheese in Jordan

Listeria monocytogenes is a serious foodborne pathogen that has been isolated from different dairy food products. Several foodborne outbreaks of listeriosis have been associated with consumption of cheese. The aims of this study were to determine the occurrence of L. monocytogenes and Listeria spp. in brined white cheese (BWC) sold in Jordan, and to determine the susceptibility of isolated L. monocytogenes to antimicrobials. Three hundred and fifty samples of 5 different types of BWC (akkawi, boiled, halloumi, pasteurized, and shellal) were collected from a local market in Jordan. The ISO (11290-1) procedure was followed for isolation and identification of Listeria spp. from cheese samples and a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique was used for confirmation of L. monocytogenes isolates. The VITEK2 automated system was used for testing antimicrobial susceptibility of L. monocytogenes isolates. The overall prevalence of Listeria spp. in cheese sample was 27.1%. L. monocytogenes was isolated from 39 (11.1%) samples. Other isolated species were L. grayi (6.9%), L. innocua (2%), L. ivanovii (4%), L. seeligeri (2%), and L. welshimeri (0.3%). The pH values and salt concentrations of L. monocytogenes positive cheese samples ranged from 5.10 to 6.32 and 5.64 to 13.16, respectively. L. monocytogenes isolates were sensitive or intermediate susceptible to imipenem, gentamicin, linezolid, teicoplanin, vancomycin, fusidic acid, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, benzylpenicillin, ciprofloxacin, erythromycin, tetracycline, and rifampicin, but resistant to fosfomycin, oxacillin, and clindamycin.     

Temperature gradient gel electrophoresis of the amplified product of a small 16S rRNA gene fragment for the identification of Listeria species isolated from food

The development of a rapid method for the identification of Listeria spp. is described. It is based on the polymerase chain reaction amplification of a small fragment from the 16S rRNA gene followed by temperature gradient gel electrophoresis. Forty-five strains of Listeria spp. (Listeria monocytogenes, Listeria innocua, Listeria ivanovii, Listeria seeligeri, and Listeria welshimeri) were used for the optimization of the protocol. No differences were observed between the results of the identification of the strains tested using traditional methods and those obtained by polymerase chain reaction-temperature gradient gel electrophoresis analysis.     

应用PCR技术快速测定食品中单核细胞增生李斯特菌毒力

目的：采用PCR 技术准确、快速测定单核细胞增生李斯特菌(单增李斯特氏菌)分离株的毒力基因,鉴别强毒株和弱毒株或无毒株,以有效地限制李斯特氏菌病的传播。方法：以单增李斯特氏菌相关毒力基因(hly、plcB、inlA、inlB、inlC、inlJ、prfA)设计引物,检测重庆市2007 - 2009 年分离的40 株单增李斯特氏菌分离株中的毒力基因携带率,并进行小鼠毒力实验。结果：40 株分离株中有15 株7 种毒力基因检测结果均为阳性,6 株hly 基因阴性,4 株plcB 基因阴性,4 株prfA 基因性,5 株inlA、inlB 基因阴性,11 株inlC 基因阴性,9 株inlJ基因阴性,1 株inlA、inlB、inlC、inlJ 基因均为阴性。4 株分离株的毒力与标准菌株ATCC191161E 相当,小鼠LD50 在1.2 × 108～6.0 × 108CFU/mL 之间,为强毒株。筛选出弱毒株09-132,LD50 为1.7 × 1011CFU/mL。结论：重庆市存在发生李斯特菌食物中毒的潜在危险,内化素基因(inlA、inlB、inlC、inlJ)的缺失可能是导致菌株毒力降低的原因,而prfA 和plcB 基因与菌株毒力的相关性较小。     

A rapid PCR-based hybridization assay for the detection of Listeria monocytogenes in channel catfish

Listeria monocytogenes is a potential pathogen commonly isolated from processed channel catfish and other food sources. Channel catfish isolates, type strains of L. monocytogenes and other Listeria species were evaluated by PCR using specific primers for the invasive-associated protein (iap) gene of L. monocytogenes . The iap primers amplified a 131 bp DNA fragment from all catfish isolates (1/15), ATCC serotypes 1, 2, 3, 4a, 4b, 4d, 4e, the wild type EGD strain and the non-hemolytic strain (ATCC 15313) of L. monocytogenes and L. welshimeri . The 131-bp product was not found in amplified DNA profiles of ATCC serotype 4c of L. monocytogenes in L. grayi, L. innocua, L. ivanovii, L. seeligeri, L. murrayi , or in Staphylococcus aureus or Aeromonoas hydrophila . Furthermore, a PCR-based hybridization assay with a DNA probe specific for the internal of the 131-bp iap was able to differentiate L. monocytogenes from L. welshimeri and A. hydrophila, E. coli, P. aeroginosa, S. aureus in experimentally contaminated catfish fillets. The PCR-based hybridization assay is sensitive enough to detect 1-2 cfu of L. monocytogenes per gram of catfish fillet.