Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) typing of Listeria strains isolated from a meat processing plant over a 2-year period.
As part of a hygiene monitoring program in a meat processing plant a total of 131 Listeria isolates were detected by sampling different processing areas and meat products within a 2-year period. The isolates were differentiated by means of phenotypic characteristics. Furthermore, the genomic ApaI and SmaI fragment patterns of all isolates were examined by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). PFGE using SmaI and ApaI yielded 15 (Listeria monocytogenes), 20 (Listeria innocua) and six (Listeria welshimeri) pulsotypes. Of the environmental Listeria monocytogenes isolates the predominating PFGE-type B was clearly associated with processing area A whereas PFGE-type E predominated in the meat products. Moreover, the study showed the persistence of closely related Listeria strains over a 2-year period in the environment of this meat processing plant.
Senczek
D
D
Institute of Food Safety and Hygiene of the University of Zurich, Switzerland.
Stephan
R
R
Untermann
F
F
D000818:Animals; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016521:Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field / Q000379:methods*; D005511:Food Handling; D008087:Listeria / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D008461:Meat Products / Q000382:microbiology*; D010641:Phenotype
D004269:DNA, Bacterial