Characterization and evaluation of biocontrol agents to combat listeria monocytogenes in foods of animal origin

Abstract

Listeria monocytogenes is an emerging zoonotic pathogen with widespread distribution, the present study has been contemplated to ascertain the presence of L.monocytogenes in foods of animal origin, environmental interface and to determine the serotype, virulence by molecular assay and genotypic characterization of the isolates. Further, antibiotic resistance patterns of the isolates were determined by both phenotypic and genotypic methods and selected essential oils of plant origin were tested for the antimicrobial activity against L.monocytogenes isolates. newlineThis study has identified the occurrence of antimicrobial resistant L.monocytogenes isolates in foods of animal origin (milk and beef) and environmental samples (soil, feed and sewage samples) and also made an attempt to employ essential oils as antimicrobial agents in food system as an alternative to control food borne pathogen as well as to curb the antimicrobial resistance in foods of animal origin. It is concluded that, further research on the application of varying concentrations of essential oils will be immensely helpful in enhancing the efficiency of these essential oils as bio-control agents to facilitate ecofriendly and environmentally safe agents in food systems which eventually leads to strategies to combat this, foodborne and antimicrobial resistant L.monocytogenes. newlineKeywords: Listeria monocytogenes, Serogrouping, Lineage, Virulence, ERIC-PCR, RAPD PCR, Antimicrobial Resistance, Essential oils. newline