[Study by multiplex PCR of Listeria monocytogenes serotypes isolated in Argentine].
A multiplex PCR assay, recently validated to characterize the serotypes of Listeria monocytogenes was evaluated in comparison to conventional serotyping. Three hundred forty two L. monocytogenes strains isolated from human, food, animal and environmental sources during the 1992-2005 period were assayed. The concordance between the two methods for serotypes 1/2a, 1/2b and 1/2c was 100%, whereas for serotype 4b it was 98%. Serotyping is a useful tool for first line strain differentiation during epidemiological surveillance and outbreaks. The multiplex PCR assay offers a fast and low-cost alternative, which is easily adaptable to clinical bacteriology and bromatology laboratories.
Callejo
R
R
Departamento Bacteriología, Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Administración Nacional de Laboratorios e Institutos de Salud Dr. Carlos G. Malbrán, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina. rcallejo@anlis.gov.ar
Prieto
M
M
Martínez
C
C
Aguerre
L
L
Rocca
F
F
Martínez
G
G
Palmieri
O
O
D001118:Argentina; D008089:Listeria monocytogenes / Q000145:classification*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D012703:Serotyping