GENOTYPING AND SEROTYPING OF LISTERIA MONOCYTOGENES ISOLATED FROM POULTRY MEAT

In this study, 150 whole and 150 pieces of chicken samples offered for sale in Turkey were investigated for the presence of L. monocytogenes. Conventional culture techniques combined by IMS were used for detection. Obtained isolates were confirmed and serotyped by PCR. Genotyping of L. monocytogenes was done by PFGE. With respect to the results, 36 (12%) samples were found as L. monocytogenes positive. 55 isolates belonging to 36 samples were identified as L. monocytogenes. The presence of hlyA gene was visualized in all of the isolates by PCR. According to serotyping, 44 isolates (80%) were identified as 1/2a, 10 isolates (18.2%) were identified as 1/2c and 1 isolate (1.8%) was identified as 1/2b. PFGE results shown that as an outcome of restriction process using AscI and ApaI, 7-10 fragments and 28 clusters, 12-15 fragments and 24 clusters were observed respectively. In the dendrogram resulted by the restriction with AscI enzyme, the homologies of L. monocytogenes isolates from diverse points were found to be excessive than ApaI. As a result, isolation of L. monocytogenes in whole and part chicken samples is important for food safety and public health.