Carriage of Listeria monocytogenes and related species in pregnant and non-pregnant women in Aberdeen, Scotland.
The faecal, cervico-vaginal and oropharyngeal carriage of Listeria species in 54 healthy pregnant women and 60 healthy non-pregnant women was investigated. Samples were cold-enriched at 4 degrees C and subcultured on selective media containing acriflavin, nalidixic acid and potassium thiocyanate. Listeria monocytogenes was isolated from the faeces of one pregnant woman (2%) and two non-pregnant women (3.4%). Listeria innocua was isolated from the faeces of one pregnant woman (2%) and one non-pregnant woman (1.7%). Listeria seeligeri was isolated from the faeces of one non-pregnant woman (1.7%). Listeria species were not isolated from cervico-vaginal or oropharyngeal samples. The results indicate that pregnancy does not affect the naturally low carriage rate of Listeria species.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002353:Carrier State / Q000382:microbiology*; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000382:microbiology; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008087:Listeria / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D008089:Listeria monocytogenes / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D008088:Listeriosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009960:Oropharynx / Q000382:microbiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D012606:Scotland; D014621:Vagina / Q000382:microbiology