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Prevalence, molecular characterization, genetic heterogeneity and antimicrobial resistance of Listeria monocytogenes associated with fish and fishery environment in Kerala, India.

Authors :
Basha KA
Kumar NR
Das V
Reshmi K
Rao BM
Lalitha KV
Joseph TC
Source :
Letters in applied microbiology [Lett Appl Microbiol] 2019 Oct; Vol. 69 (4), pp. 286-293. Date of Electronic Publication: 2019 Aug 27.
Publication Year :
2019

Abstract

The prevalence of Listeria monocytogenes in the retail fish markets of the Kerala, India was investigated by screening 227 samples comprising of marine finfish (n = 97) shellfish (n = 19), ready-to-cook fish products (n = 47), ready-to-eat fish products (n = 10), dried fish (n = 11) and retail ice (n = 43). The prevalence of L. monocytogenes and L. innocua was 2·7% and 17·2% respectively. Sample category wise, prevalence of L. monocytogenes was higher in marine finfish (1·8%) and retail ice (0·9%). All the L. monocytogenes isolates carried virulent genes namely inlA, inlC, inlJ, hlyA, iap, plcA, prfA genes and majority (82%) belonged to 1/2a, 3a serogroups. L. monocytogenes isolates were multidrug-resistant and showed resistance to ampicillin, penicillin, erythromycin, tetracycline and clindamycin. Enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus-polymerase chain reaction (ERIC-PCR) delineated 58% genetic heterogeneity among the L. monocytogenes strains. The study reports that genetic similarities of the isolates were interlinked to their serogroup and sample origin. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Prevalence of Listeria monocytogenes, in the retail fish markets of Kerala, India was low but their relatively higher presence in marine finfish and retail ice and virulent nature of the isolates signifies food safety concerns. Moreover, multidrug-resistant nature of these isolates may potentially lead to spread of antimicrobial resistance. This study identified retail ice as a vehicle for entry of L. monocytogenes in retail fish and hence, there is a need to ensure quality of retail ice used for maintaining the cold-chain.<br /> (© 2019 The Society for Applied Microbiology.)

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
1472-765X
Volume :
69
Issue :
4
Database :
MEDLINE
Journal :
Letters in applied microbiology
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
31392736
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1111/lam.13205