Premium
Prevalence and serotyping of Listeria monocytogenes in Portuguese live bivalve molluscs sampled in various steps along the sanitary control process
Author(s) -
Pinto Ana Luísa,
Teixeira Paula,
Castilho Fernanda,
Felício Maria Teresa,
Pombal Filomena,
Gibbs Paul A
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
aquaculture research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.646
H-Index - 89
eISSN - 1365-2109
pISSN - 1355-557X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2109.2006.01535.x
Subject(s) - listeria monocytogenes , biology , contamination , serotype , listeria , fishery , toxicology , microbiology and biotechnology , ecology , bacteria , genetics
The prevalence and contamination levels of Listeria monocytogenes were investigated in live bivalve molluscs for human consumption, collected in various steps of the commercial and sanitary circuits in the North of Portugal. Samples of different species were collected per lot before and after depuration treatment in two depuration units and further, when placed in retail markets. Listeria monocytogenes was isolated from 4% of the samples although with very low contamination levels (less than 100 MPN g −1 ). None of the environmental (non‐depurated) samples were contaminated with the food‐borne pathogen. The positive samples involved depurated and commercialized samples from two lots, one in each circuit. Two serotypes (1/2a and 3b) were detected among the isolated strains. This study demonstrated the possibility of occurrence of L. monocytogenes contamination of live bivalve molluscs along the sanitary control circuit, including at the retail market level. As L. monocytogenes grows well at refrigerated temperatures and in high salt matrixes such as seafood its presence in these products should not be overlooked.