title: Molecular tracking of Listeria monocytogenes in an Iberian pig abattoir and processing plant.
abstract: The environment and products from an Iberian pig abattoir and processing plant were sampled to investigate the prevalence and genetic diversity of Listeria monocytogenes. The organism was not detected in the pig carcasses prior to processing. Fresh and dry-cured pork did show detectable levels, always ranging below 100CFU per gram. A total of 163 L. monocytogenes isolates collected during one year were characterized by PCR-based serotyping and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) restriction analysis. Three predominant PFGE types or pulsotypes seemed to persist in the plant. The pulsotype S1 (serotype group 1/2a, 53% of the isolates) was mostly recovered from whole pieces of meat and environmental sites, while pulsotypes S2 (1/2a, 17%) and S4 (1/2b, 21%) were more frequently associated with ground pork products. The pulsotype S4 was also found in a grinding machine, suggesting a possible association of this machine with the contamination of the ground meat products.
authors: Tecnología de Alimentos, INIA, Carretera de La Coruña km 7'5, 28040 Madrid, Spain.
authors: Victoria
authors: V
authors: López
authors: David
authors: D
authors: Villatoro
authors: Sagrario
authors: S
authors: Ortiz
authors: Pilar
authors: P
authors: López
authors: Jaime
authors: J
authors: Navas
authors: J Carlos
authors: JC
authors: Dávila
authors: Joaquín V
authors: JV
authors: Martínez-Suárez