Antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of Listeria monocytogenes isolated from fresh produce in KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa

Authors

  • F Tshabuse Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Zululand, Private Bag X1001, kwaDlangezwa 3886, South Africa
  • NK Cele Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Zululand, Private Bag X1001, kwaDlangezwa 3886, South Africa
  • AR Opoku Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Zululand, Private Bag X1001, kwaDlangezwa 3886, South Africa
  • A Basson Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Zululand, Private Bag X1001, kwaDlangezwa 3886, South Africa
  • MS Mthembu Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Zululand, Private Bag X1001, kwaDlangezwa 3886, South Africa
  • MF Swalaha Department of Biotechnology and Food Science, Durban University of Technology, PO Box 1334, Durban 4000, South Africa

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17159/wsa/2024.v50.i2.4013

Keywords:

inlA gene, internalin, Listeria spp., L. monocytogenes, virulence genes

Abstract

Fresh, ready-to-eat produce is frequently irrigated with untreated water, making it a leading cause of food-borne illness outbreaks worldwide. This study investigated the presence of Listeria monocytogenes in fresh produce that was grown using river water. Standard biochemical tests were used for the identification of L. monocytogenes isolated from river water used for irrigation, and from fresh produce including lettuce, spinach, and pumpkin. The inlA gene of L. monocytogenes was molecularly identified using PCR amplification. The susceptibility of L. monocytogenes isolates to antimicrobial agents was assessed using the Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method. The presence of the amplified inlA gene (800 bp) indicated that all of the fresh produce and river water samples were contaminated with virulent L. monocytogenes. Lettuce and spinach exhibited higher quantities of L. monocytogenes, with lettuce recording 87 CFU/g and spinach recording 71 CFU/g. The L. monocytogenes isolates from spinach and lettuce sources showed significant resistance to colistin (56.2% and 53.3%, respectively) as well as ampicillin (68.8% and 53.3%, respectively). Moreover, lettuce (40%) and spinach (31%) exhibited a common resistance pattern of AMP-CHL-CT-KAN-PIP-ERY-TET, with a maximum MAR index value of 0.54. Our research demonstrates the transmission of multidrug-resistant L. monocytogenes from irrigation river water to fresh produce. Hence, the ingestion of ready-to-eat fresh produce carries the potential for human listeriosis, particularly among individuals with compromised immune systems.

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Published

2024-04-30

How to Cite

F Tshabuse, NK Cele, AR Opoku, A Basson, MS Mthembu, & MF Swalaha. (2024). Antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of Listeria monocytogenes isolated from fresh produce in KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa. Water SA, 50(2 April). https://doi.org/10.17159/wsa/2024.v50.i2.4013

Issue

Section

Research paper