Occurrence of Listeria monocytogenes in Artisanal Cheeses from Poland and Its Identification by MALDI-TOF MS

Renata Pyz-Łukasik,Monika Ziomek,Agata Policht,Michał Gondek,Anna Piróg-Komorowska,Waldemar Paszkiewicz,Katarzyna Michalak,Dagmara Winiarczyk

doi:10.3390/pathogens10060632

Renata Pyz-Łukasik, Monika Ziomek + Show 6 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens10060632

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Journal: Pathogens	Publication Date: May 21, 2021
Citations: 8	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: University of Life Sciences in Lublin

Abstract

Listeria monocytogenes is a foodborne pathogen. A source of infection can be artisanal cheeses. Identification of the Listeria species is important for the protection of public health and the food industry. This study aimed to examine artisanal cheeses for the presence of L. monocytogenes and the effectiveness of the MALDI-TOF MS method in the identification of the L. monocytogenes isolates. A total of 370 samples of artisanal cheeses were examined. L. monocytogenes was found in 23 cheese samples (6.2%). The reliability of L. monocytogenes identification achieved by MALDI-TOF MS was varied, and the vast majority of the isolates (27/32) were identified only to the secure genus, probable species level. This study showed that (i) the occurrence of L. monocytogenes in the artisanal cheeses was at a higher level than that in the other EU countries, (ii) the standard of species identification of L. monocytogenes isolates from artisanal cheeses achieved by MALDI-TOF MS was not satisfactory and (iii) the presence of L. monocytogenes in artisanal cheeses remains a problem with regard to the food safety criterion and a potential public health risk.

Highlights

Listeria monocytogenes is a real public health threat, as evidenced by the data of zoonosis and zoonotic agent monitoring in European Union (EU) countries
Taking into account the number of reported human cases in the EU in 2018, listeriosis ranks fifth among 13 zoonoses and the highest number of hospitalisations and mortality rates have been noted for this zoonosis
There is no doubt that there is a need to monitor cheeses produced by traditional methods for L. monocytogenes

Summary

Introduction

Listeria monocytogenes is a real public health threat, as evidenced by the data of zoonosis and zoonotic agent monitoring in European Union (EU) countries. This pathogen is the etiological agent of listeriosis, a foodborne disease. Artisanal cheeses belong to traditional dairy products [8,9,10,11,12], and they are constantly produced in many countries of the world. This type of foodstuff has cultural, social and economic importance [13]

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