Med. Weter. 78 (3), 137-141, 2022
full text

MARTA SOŁTYSIUK, AGNIESZKA WISZNIEWSKA-ŁASZCZYCH,
JOANNA WOJTACKA, BEATA WYSOK |
Prevalence and antimicrobial susceptibility of Listeria spp. isolated from bulk raw milk
in north-eastern Poland |
Purpose of research: The aim of the study was to determine the presence of Listeria spp. strains in the
milk samples obtained from dairy farms in north-eastern Poland and to determine the profile of resistance to
antibiotics recommended in the treatment of listeriosis.
Material and methods: 500 samples of bulk milk were analyzed. Milk samples were obtained from dairy
farms located in Warmia and Mazury region in Poland. Chronic mastitis, requiring frequent and long-term
use of antibiotics has been documented in these herds. Isolation of Listeria spp. was performed according to
the standard procedure PN-EN ISO 11290-1: 2017-07. Antibiotic resistance testing was performed by the disc
diffusion method according to the Clinical & Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) recommendations.
Results: In total, out of 500 samples of pooled milk, based on biochemical properties, 8 isolates were
confirmed as belonging to the genus Listeria (1.6%). The further identification of Listeria strains on the basis
of MicrobactListeria12L showed that 3 strains (3/8, 37.5%) belonged to L. monocytogenes species and 5 strains
(5/8, 62.5%) belonged to L. innocua species. The analysis of sensitivity to commonly used antimicrobial agents
showed that all isolates, both belonging to L. monocytogenes and L. innocua species, were sensitive to ampicillin.
Multidrug resistance, defined as resistance to at least three classes of antibiotics, was confirmed among four
isolates (50%).
Research summary: The studies undertaken revealed that raw milk can pose a risk for public health due to
the prevalence of pathogenic Listeria spp. among which multidrug resistant strains are present. It is therefore
necessary to rationalize the use of antibiotics and to monitor bacterial resistance in the food production
environment. |
Keywords: Listeria spp., contamination, antibiotic resistance, raw milk |