Molecular detection of Listeria monocytogenes and L. ivanovii from bovine abortion in Shahrekord

Abortion can lead to major economic losses. L. monocytogenes and L. ivanovii can cause infertility and abortion. Considering the importance of what mentioned, present study was conducted to detection of L. monocytogenes and L. ivanovii in bovine abortion from Shahrekord, Iran. Vaginal discharge from 36 aborted cows were investigated to detection of L. monocytogenes and L. ivanovii. The samples were analyzed by two-stage enrichment techniques, Listeria Enrichment Broth (LEB) as primary enrichment and Fraser Secondary Broth as secondary enrichment. Secondly enrichments were streaked on Palcam agar. Suspected colonies were evaluated for detecting L. monocytogenes and L. ivanovii by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method. L. monocytogenes and L. ivanovii were not found in any sample. However, we cannot discuss about absence of Listeria in the samples certainly and perhaps it is more accurate that suspicious tissues would be tested by direct PCR method, according to the results of this study it is thought that L. monocytogenes and L. ivanovii may have little impact on the incidence of cattle abortion in this region and other infectious agents may play a major role in cattle abortions in this region that has not been investigated in this study. Therefore, further investigations especially in the suspected tissues are recommended.