LISTERIA MONOCYTOGENES IN THE FOOD CHAIN - RECENT ADVANCEMENTS IN TECHNOLOGIES FOR RAPID DETECTION AND IDENTIFICATION

Listeria monocytogenes (Lm) is an opportunistic non-sporing foodborne pathogen that has been responsible for several outbreaks in India and other countries due to consumption of contaminated food and causes a disease called listeriosis. This disease is rare but life-threatening with severe symptoms and a high mortality rate of 20-30%. Lm can easily adapt to adverse environmental and stress conditions, making it a causative agent for major foodborne diseases. The classical culture methods for detection of Lm are simple and inexpensive but they are time consuming, laborious, and slow in providing results. Several alternative methods for identification of this pathogen are being used, which take short time for analysis, require less sample, cost effective and helpful in routine food sample testing. More sophisticated detection approaches are also needed to genetically discriminate strains for epidemiological investigations and to study listeriosis infections. In this review, we provide latest information on rapid and analytical methods for the detection and identification of Lm in foods. An emphasis is also given on techniques for subtyping of Lm strains, which are essential to determine evolutionary relationships between different strains and to track the source of food contamination. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first review paper to compile the most recent insights for testing presence of Lm in foods.