PHYLOGENETIC CHARATERIZATION OF LISTERIA MONOCYTOGENES ISOLATED FROM DIFFERENT SOURCES IN IRAQ

Abstract

  Objective: The main goal of the current study was to isolate and detect the phylogenetic characterization of Listeria monocytogenes isolate from clinical and non-clinical specimens.Methods: L. monocytogenes was isolated from 353 samples including: (94) Vaginal swabs, (81) piece of placenta, (51) frozen chicken, (69) soft cheese, and (58) frozen red meat samples using the Association of Official Agricultural Chemists method. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed for the detection of virulence gene hlyA followed by DNA sequence analysis for this gene.Results: A total of 13 isolates of L. monocytogenes were isolated from 2 (2.1%) vaginal swabs, 4 (4.9%) piece placenta, 2 (3.9%) frozen chicken, 3 (4.3%) frozen soft cheese, and 2 (3.4%) frozen red meat samples, and hlyA gene was detected in 100% of L. monocytogenes isolates.Conclusion: All the isolates tested positive for hlyA gene, so this is important role in the study of the L. monocytogenes infection and its pathogenicity. The phylogenetic analysis showed a clear convergence in the L. monocytogenes isolates from chicken, red meat, and soft cheese 70%, while there is a marked difference in isolates of L. monocytogenes isolated from placenta and vaginal swabs.