Death – Obituary – Accident and Crime News : Listeria monocytogenes, a foodborne pathogen, is a widespread bacterium that contaminates various food products, posing a potential health risk to consumers. Although listeriosis is relatively uncommon compared to other foodborne illnesses, it is a potentially fatal disease. In fact, listeriosis is the most common cause of death from foodborne illness in the European Union, according to the European Food Safety Authority.
Chicken meat slaughterhouses and processing facilities are common sites for L. monocytogenes growth and proliferation, making it a significant challenge for poultry-processing companies to control this hazard. Effective control measures are crucial to prevent economic losses and public health risks associated with product recalls or condemnation by veterinary inspection services.
Traditionally, the gold standard test for detecting L. monocytogenes is the culture technique. However, this method may not always be effective in isolating the bacterium. Therefore, additional culture-independent methods, such as real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and next-generation sequencing, are being used in the food industry to supplement false-negative results obtained via culture methods.
In a recent study, researchers aimed to identify the sources and transmission routes of L. monocytogenes contamination in a slaughterhouse. They collected samples from the facility over three years and analyzed them using both culture-dependent and -independent methods. The researchers isolated L. monocytogenes using culture methods and determined the prevalence, serotypes, and sequencing types (STs). They also used qPCR and 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing to detect contamination points and describe the microbial community in the slaughterhouse.
The findings from this study will help improve the understanding of L. monocytogenes contamination in slaughterhouses and facilitate the development of appropriate control strategies. By identifying the specific processing steps in which contamination occurs, measures can be implemented to prevent the spread of L. monocytogenes and ensure food safety.
Overall, the study highlights the importance of implementing both culture-dependent and -independent methods to effectively detect and control L. monocytogenes in slaughterhouses. These strategies will not only help protect public health but also prevent economic losses for poultry-processing companies.