Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis typing and molecular characterization of <em>Listeria monocytogenes</em> isolates in raw milk samples from Polonnaruwa District, Sri Lanka

Listeria monocytogenes is an important food borne human pathogen associated with severe diseases in humans and animals. Human infection is associated with high mortality rates. Our previous studies done in 2012 on milk and milk products revealed 4b as the dominant serotype followed by 1/2a, 1/2b and 1/2c. Listeria monocytogenes is an important food borne human pathogen associated with severe diseases in humans and animals. Human infection is associated with high mortality rates. Our previous studies done in 2012 on milk and milk products revealed 4b as the dominant serotype followed by 1/2a, 1/2b and 1/2c. Therefore, this study was conducted to determine the sources of contamination and to identify the strain differences (pulsotypes) by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) typing and serotype profiles of L. monocytogenes isolates from farm collected raw milk samples from randomly identified locations in Grama Niladhari divisions of the Polonnaruwa district, Sri Lanka. Eighty isolates obtained from raw milk samples were confirmed as L. monocytogenes by Polymerase Chain Reaction, belonging to serotypes 4b, 1/2a, 1/2b and 1/2c. The strains were identified by PFGE. PFGE analysis digested with AscI and ApaI enzymes revealed different banding patterns. All the pulsotypes were found to be serotype 4b. The sub typing indicated the diversity of the Listeria species. The presence of serotypes 1/2a, 1⁄2b, 1/2c, and 4b in raw milk is a public health concern, as these serotypes are frequently associated with foodborne outbreaks and sporadic cases of human listeriosis. In our study, PFGE analysis allowed discrimination among isolates of the same serogroup. Further PFGE analysis showed heterogeneity among isolates recovered from both same sampling areas and different areas.