A comparative study on the occurrence, genetic characteristics, and factors associated with the distribution of Listeria species on cattle farms and beef abattoirs in Gauteng Province, South Africa

AbstractThese cross-sectional studies reported the occurrence, genetic characteristics, and factors associated with the distribution ofListeria species on cattle farms and beef abattoirs in Gauteng Province, South Africa. A total of 328 samples (faeces, feeds, silage, and drinking water) were collected from 23 cattle farms (communal, cow-calf, and feedlot), and 262 samples (faeces, carcass swabs, and effluents) from 8 beef abattoirs (low throughput and high throughput) were processed using standard bacteriological and molecular methods to detectListeria species. The factors associated with the prevalence ofListeria species were investigated, and multiplex polymerase chain reaction (mPCR) was used to determineListeria species, the pathogenic serogroups, and the carriage of eight virulence-associated genes byListeria monocytogenes. The overall prevalence ofListeria species in cattle farms was 14.6%, comprisingListeria innocua (11.3%),Listeria monocytogenes (3.4%),Listeria welshimeri (0.0%) compared with 11.1%, comprisingListeria innocua (5.7%),Listeria monocytogenes (4.6%),Listeria welshimeri (0.8%) for beef abattoirs. Of the three variables (area, type of farm/abattoir, and sample type) investigated, only the sample types at abattoirs had a significant (P <  0.001) effect on the prevalence ofL. innocua andL. welshimeri. The frequency of distribution of the serogroups based on 11L. monocytogenes isolated from farms was 72.7% and 27.3% for the serogroup 1/2a-3a and 4b-4d-...
Source: Tropical Animal Health and Production - Category: Veterinary Research Source Type: research