Molecular and biochemical evaluation of ovine carcasses contamination to Listeria monocytogenes in Shahrekord

The genus-Listeria has two pathogenic species namely، Listeria monocytogenes and Listeria ivanovii. Of these، L. monocytogenes is a well-known cause of abortion، encephalitis and septicaemia in man and animals. Listeria ivanovii is an animal pathogen and in rare cases causes human infection. Contamination of ovine carcasses during the slaughter and processing is a major risk for foodborne infections in humans. Considering the importance of what mentioned in the present study was conducted to detect L. monocytogenes in ovine carcasses slaughtered in Shahrekord abattoir. A total of 200 meat samples of ovine carcasses were collected from Jooneghan abattoir، Chaharmahal va bakhtiari province. The samples were cultured in specific media. Isolates were subjected to standard biochemical tests. The isolates were then tested by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The contamination rate in sheep carcasses with Listeria was 2. 5% (5 out of 200 samples). L. monocytogenes was not found in any samples and PCR result agreed with result from standard biochemical tests. All five isolates (2. 5%) identified as pathogenic L. ivanovii. Although the contamination rate in sheep carcasses with pathogenic L. ivanovii was low and L. monocytogenes was not found in any samples، the role of red meat in transmission of Listeria spp. should be considered.