Prevalence of Listeria spp. in fish obtained from Urmia fish markets

The present study was conducted to determine the prevalence of Listeria spp. in fish obtained from Urmia fish markets. A number of 194 fish comprising Oncorhynchus mykiss (n=42), Sander lucioperca (n=38), Cyprinus carpio (n=30), Hypophthalmiachthys molitrix (n=48), Abramis brama (n=12), Astacus leptodactylus (n=12) and Silurus glanis(n=12) were obtained from different fish markets of Urmia from June 2009 to February 2010. Listeria isolation was performed in two stages including enrichment in cold and selective plating. After colony formation, in order to confirming the genus of the Listeria, a fragment of Prs gene using Listeria genus specific primers was amplified from isolated bacteria using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Results revealed that Listeria was isolated from 24 fish (12.37%). The highest prevalence of Listeria was observed in both A. brama and A. leptodactylus with 25%, while the lowest prevalence of Listeria was seen inS. lucioperca (9.7%). From the total of 24 Listeria isolates, five isolates (21%) were confirmed to be L. monocytogenes; seven isolates were L. ivonoi (29%) while L. Seeligeriwas not isolated from any examined fish. The study showed that L. monocytogenes and other Listeria species are common contaminant of fish obtained from Urmia fish markets, and this may pose serious public health implications.   Key words: Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes, fish, PCR, Urmia.

[1]  S. Balci,et al.  Prevalence of listeria, Aeromonas, and Vibrio species in fish used for human consumption in Turkey. , 2010, Journal of food protection.

[2]  A. V. von Laer,et al.  Characterization of Listeria monocytogenes isolated from a fresh mixed sausage processing line in Pelotas-RS by PFGE , 2009, Brazilian journal of microbiology : [publication of the Brazilian Society for Microbiology].

[3]  M. T. Destro,et al.  Quantitative evaluation of Listeria monocytogenes in fresh and processed surubim fish (Pseudoplatystoma sp) , 2008, Brazilian journal of microbiology : [publication of the Brazilian Society for Microbiology].

[4]  M. T. Destro,et al.  Epidemiological Survey of Listeria monocytogenes in a gravlax salmon processing line , 2008, Brazilian journal of microbiology : [publication of the Brazilian Society for Microbiology].

[5]  A. Abrahim,et al.  Incidence of Listeria spp. in fish and environment of fish markets in Northern Greece , 2007 .

[6]  G. Wirtanen,et al.  Prevalence and location of Listeria monocytogenes in farmed rainbow trout. , 2005, International journal of food microbiology.

[7]  H. Ertas,et al.  Isolation of Listeria monocytogenes from Fish Intestines and RAPD Analysis , 2005 .

[8]  F. Austin,et al.  Comparative assessment of acid, alkali and salt tolerance in Listeria monocytogenes virulent and avirulent strains. , 2005, FEMS microbiology letters.

[9]  C. Buchrieser,et al.  Differentiation of the Major Listeria monocytogenes Serovars by Multiplex PCR , 2004, Journal of Clinical Microbiology.

[10]  A. Sjöberg,et al.  The incidence of Listeria monocytogenes in meat, poultry and seafood plants in the Nordic countries , 2004 .

[11]  R. Sleator,et al.  A Postgenomic Appraisal of Osmotolerance in Listeria monocytogenes , 2003, Applied and Environmental Microbiology.

[12]  A. Laciar,et al.  Listeria species in seafood: isolation and characterization of Listeria spp. from seafood in San Luis, Argentina , 2002 .

[13]  A. Sutherland,et al.  Detection of Listeria species in refrigerated chicken carcasses using Clearview tm and a modified conventional culture method , 2001 .

[14]  G. Nychas,et al.  Incidence of foodborne pathogens on European fish , 2001 .

[15]  J. Farber.  FAO expert consultation on the trade impact of Listeria in fish products , 2000 .

[16]  L. Rantala,et al.  Occurrence and typing of Listeria monocytogenes strains in retail vacuum-packed fish products and in a production plant. , 1999, International journal of food microbiology.

[17]  Tiina Mattila-Sandholm,et al.  Sources of Listeria monocytogenes Contamination in a Cold-Smoked Rainbow Trout Processing Plant Detected by Pulsed-Field Gel Electrophoresis Typing , 1999, Applied and Environmental Microbiology.

[18]  J. McLauchlin,et al.  A small outbreak of listeriosis associated with smoked mussels. , 1998, International journal of food microbiology.

[19]  S. Loncarevic,et al.  An outbreak of listeriosis suspected to have been caused by rainbow trout , 1997, Journal of clinical microbiology.

[20]  A. Smith,et al.  Multiplex PCR assay for the routine detection of Listeria in food. , 1996, International journal of food microbiology.

[21]  L. Graves,et al.  A point-source foodborne listeriosis outbreak: documented incubation period and possible mild illness. , 1994, The Journal of infectious diseases.

[22]  P. B. Embarek,et al.  Presence, detection and growth of Listeria monocytogenes in seafoods: a review. , 1994 .

[23]  T. Jemmi,et al.  Occurrence of Listeria monocytogenes in freshwater fish farms and fish-smoking plants. , 1994 .

[24]  R. Hartemink,et al.  Incidence of Listeria species in seafood and seafood salads. , 1991, International journal of food microbiology.

[25]  P. Varaldo,et al.  Ignorance about listeria. , 1989, BMJ.

[26]  B. Dove,et al.  Epidemic perinatal listeriosis , 1984, Pediatric infectious disease.