Listeriosis in a peri-urban area: Cultural and molecular characterization of Listeria monocytogenes isolated from encephalitic goats

Abstract

Background and Aim: Listeriosis in food animals bears a significant threat to human health. Detailed investigations into the cause facilitate proper management of the disease. This study reports the cultural, pathological, and molecular characterization of Listeria monocytogenes isolated from encephalitic goats from peri-urban Guwahati, Assam. Materials and Methods: Out of nine suspected samples, five positive isolates of L. monocytogenes were subjected to bacteriological, biochemical, and molecular tests. The genus and species-specific L. monocytogenes 16S rRNA and prs genes were amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to yield 1200 and 370 bp sized products, respectively. The encephalitic form of the disease was characterized by circling movement, high fever, and terminal recumbence. Results: All the five isolates were confirmed to be L. monocytogenes based on PCR amplification of genus and species-specific 16S rRNA and prs gene products. The isolates were sensitive to ciprofloxacin, oxytetracycline (OTC), and norfloxacin, but resistant to doxycycline and erythromycin. A high dose of OTC was used in a goat at the early stage of clinical symptom and the animal recovered clinically. Conclusion: Listeriosis in goats could pose a significant public health threat as the meat (occasionally milk) or meat products from goats are widely consumed by the people of Assam. Understanding the molecular epidemiological aspects of L. monocytogenes infections of food animal species should, therefore, be the priority in this part of the country.

Emergence of clinically suspected listeriosis in goats: a sporadic outbreak in Jaffna district, Sri Lanka

“…Encephalitic Listeriosis was predominantly observed wherein few cases were manifested together with either septicaemic form or reproductive form. The septicaemic form was clearly indicated by the necropsy findings in liver (multiple necrotic foci) and spleen and few of the cases encountered with abortion in pregnant does were suggestive of reproductive Listeriosis.Encephalitic form was commonly reported in several outbreaks from various countries (Barman et al, 2020;Borku et al, 2006;Younis et al, 2010). The clinical presentation with encephalitic Listeriosis was similarly documented in many other studies (Braun et al, 2002;Hamidi et al, 2020;Kumar et al, 2007) which could facilitate on a rapid clinical diagnosis of the disease.…”

“…The incidences of animal Listeriosis have also been reported from Asian countries at varying periods including different parts from the Indian subcontinent (Assam, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh), Kuwait, Japan, Korea and Azerbaijan (Kim et al, 2023;Dhama et al, 2015;Khalimbekov, 1955). Several major outbreaks were reported in many countries as discussed above (Barman et al, 2020;Braun et al, 2002). This study focused on describing the epidemiology, clinical manifestations, laboratory diagnosis, management and control measures of the disease in goats with Listeriosis in Jaffna district, Sri Lanka.…”