Molecular detection of Listeria monocytogenes and Listeria ivanovii in pigeons in the city of Yazd, Iran

Birds can harbor human pathogens، including L. monocytogenes and L. ivanovii and transmit then to the humans. Due to many people''s interests to keep pigeons، present study was conducted to determine the occurrence of L. monocytogenes and L. ivanovii from pigeon faeces in Yazd. In the present study، 150 samples of bird faeces were collected with sterile cotton swabs from different areas of the city of Yazd، Iran. Swabs were placed directly into Listeria enrichment broth. One ml of primary enrichments was transferred to 9 ml of Frazer broth. Secondly enrichments were streaked on Palcam agar. Then، they were evaluated for detection of L. monocytogenes and L. ivanovii by PCR method. Although overall prevalence of Listeria species was 2% (3 out of 150)، no L. monocytogenes and no L. ivanovii were found in our study. Discussion and The sources of Listeria spp. in birds are the foods they eat and the environments they live. Since nutritions، living environments، and hygiene level of pigeons are better than those of the wild birds، L. monocytogenes and L. ivanovii were not found in any samples. The present result is suggesting that pigeons are not the source or the carrier of L. monocytogenes and L. ivanovii in the region.