The frequency of ctpA gene in Listeria monocytogenes isolated from poultry using PCR

Listeria monocytogenes is able to cause infections in humans and around 50 species of animals. Meats and their derivatives show a potential role in the transmission of Listeria to humans  and epidemy of listeriosis. The aim of this study was to determine the contamination of poultry meats whit L. monocytogenes and to find out the frequency of ctpA gene.
This cross-sectional study was carried out on 410 samples collected from poultry, including 110 fecal samples and 100 samples from each of liver, spleen and brain samples. Isolation of L. monocytogenes was performed using specific medium. PCR was performed using L. monocytogenes 16S rRNA and ctpA gene specific primers. Also, all of the 410 samples were tested directly using PCR.
Totally, 20.24% of the samples were positive for Listeria in culture method. The presence of Listeria in fecal, liver, spleen and brain specimens were 36.30%, 19%, 19% and 12%, respectively. However, based on PCR, 25.12% out of 410 samples were infected to Listeria. Furthermore, ctpA gene was found in 34.95% of Listeria.
The results indicate that the frequency of L. monocytogenes in the poultry samples of this region is relatively high. PCR techniques make it possible to determine the L. monocytogenes infection directly in fresh samples.