Occurrence and genetic characterization of Listeria spp. in minimally processed vegetables commercialized in Porto Alegre, Brazil

Authors

  • Sylvia Elisa Frizzo Verdin UFRGS
  • Silvia Regina Pavan da Silva UFRGS
  • Dariane Castro Pereira UFRGS
  • Aline Modelski Schatkoski UFRGS
  • Gertrudes Corção UFRGS

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.22456/1679-9216.15965

Keywords:

Listeria, Minimamente processados, Vegetais, 16S-23S rDNA, Região espaçadora

Abstract

Minimally processed vegetables go through many steps before they are refrigerated, selection, washing, peeling, cutting, disinfection and finally packaging. However, if no care is taken at the origin of the raw materials and in the processing stages, there is a chance of finding pathogenic bacteria, such as

 

Listeria monocytogenes, which are able to grow at low temperatures. The aim of this research was to verify the occurrence of Listeria sp. in minimally processed vegetables sold in Porto Alegre, Brazil, and the genetic relationship among the isolates. Minimally processed salads were sampled monthly from local supermarkets and analyzed by inoculation on Listeria Enrichment Broth and subsequent seeding on two selective media, Palcam and Modified Oxford Agar. The typical colonies were identified to species level and their intergenic region 16S-23S rDNA were amplified in order to verify the genetic variability. Species of Listeria were found in 23 of the 52 processed salad samples analyzed and L. monocytogenes was found in seven. The presence of L. monocytogenes in the samples is a health concern, as these salads are eaten without further treatment by the consumer. The amplification of the intergenic region 16S-23S rDNA, showed a great genetic diversity among the isolates, with 43 different patterns, proving the usefulness of this technique in epidemiologic studies.

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Author Biographies

Sylvia Elisa Frizzo Verdin, UFRGS

Silvia Regina Pavan da Silva, UFRGS

 

 

PPGMAA-UFRGS.

Dariane Castro Pereira, UFRGS

 

 

Departamento de Microbiologia, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde (ICBS)-UFRGS.

Aline Modelski Schatkoski, UFRGS

 

 

Departamento de Microbiologia, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde (ICBS)-UFRGS.

Gertrudes Corção, UFRGS

 

 

Departamento de Microbiologia, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde (ICBS)-UFRGS.

Published

2018-03-30

How to Cite

Verdin, S. E. F., Silva, S. R. P. da, Pereira, D. C., Schatkoski, A. M., & Corção, G. (2018). Occurrence and genetic characterization of Listeria spp. in minimally processed vegetables commercialized in Porto Alegre, Brazil. Acta Scientiae Veterinariae, 35(2), 167–172. https://doi.org/10.22456/1679-9216.15965

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