Characterization of epidemic clones of Listeria monocytogenes serotype 4b isolated from humans and meat products in Brazil

Authors

  • André Victor Barbosa Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
  • Aloysio de Mello Figueiredo Cerqueira Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
  • Leonardo Alves Rusak Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
  • Cristhiane Moura Falavina dos Reis Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
  • Nilma Cintra Leal Centro de Pesquisas Aggeu Magalhães, Fiocruz, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil
  • Ernesto Hofer Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
  • Deyse Christina Vallim Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3855/jidc.5639

Keywords:

Listeria monocytogenes, serotype 4b, epidemic clones, virulence, epidemiology

Abstract

Introduction: Listeria monocytogenes is an important foodborne pathogen and the 4b serotype is responsible for many cases of human listeriosis reported in Brazil. Several listeriosis outbreaks worldwide have involved a small number of well-defined clonal groups, designated as epidemic clones (ECs).

Methodology: We studied 71 strains of serotype 4b, including 25 isolates from human cases of listeriosis and 46 from meat-based foods, collected in Brazil between 1977 and 2010. The presence of ECs (I and II) markers and virulence genes (inlA, inlB, ilnC, inlJ and actA) were evaluated by PCR assay. The genetic relationship of ECs-positive strains was assessed by pulsed field gel electrophoresis.

Results: ECI and ECII markers were found both in human and food strains, with 19.7% positive for the ECI marker and 40.8% for ECII. Most strains (97.2%) were positive for the virulence genes that were studied. Nevertheless, the actA gene amplicons showed two distinct sizes, with all ECI positive strains exhibiting a 105bp deletion. Pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) analysis allowed the recognition of highly related strains, particularly from two outbreaks of neonatal listeriosis in São Paulo State occurred in 1992 and 1997, both ECII-positive; and two ECI strains from a human case (1982) and from bovine meat (2009).

Conclusions: The presence of ECs among clinical samples and beef isolates of serotype 4b from some regions of Brazil highlights the need for rigorous control of production procedures. Furthermore, the association of ECII with two nosocomial outbreaks suggests its ability to spread in these settings.

Author Biographies

André Victor Barbosa, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Laboratório de Enteropatógenos, Microbiologia Veterinária e de Alimentos, Departamento de Microbiologia e Parasitologia

Aloysio de Mello Figueiredo Cerqueira, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Laboratório de Enteropatógenos, Microbiologia Veterinária e de Alimentos, Departamento de Microbiologia e Parasitologia

Leonardo Alves Rusak, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Laboratório de Zoonoses Bacterianas (LABZOO)

Cristhiane Moura Falavina dos Reis, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Laboratório de Zoonoses Bacterianas (LABZOO)

Nilma Cintra Leal, Centro de Pesquisas Aggeu Magalhães, Fiocruz, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil

Departamento de Microbiologia

Ernesto Hofer, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Laboratório de Zoonoses Bacterianas (LABZOO)

Deyse Christina Vallim, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Laboratório de Zoonoses Bacterianas (LABZOO)

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Published

2015-09-27

How to Cite

1.
Barbosa AV, Cerqueira A de MF, Rusak LA, dos Reis CMF, Leal NC, Hofer E, Vallim DC (2015) Characterization of epidemic clones of Listeria monocytogenes serotype 4b isolated from humans and meat products in Brazil. J Infect Dev Ctries 9:962–969. doi: 10.3855/jidc.5639

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Section

Original Articles