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Applied and Environmental Microbiology, January 2001, p. 198-205, Vol. 67, No. 1
0099-2240/01/$04.00+0   DOI: 10.1128/AEM.67.1.198-205.2001
Copyright © 2001, American Society for Microbiology. All rights reserved.

Molecular Studies on the Ecology of Listeria monocytogenes in the Smoked Fish Processing Industry

Dawn M. Norton,1 Meghan A. McCamey,1 Kenneth L. Gall,2 Janet M. Scarlett,3 Kathryn J. Boor,1 and Martin Wiedmann4,*

Food Safety Laboratory, Department of Food Science,1 Department of Population Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences,3 and Department of Food Science,4 Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, and Cornell University Cooperative Extension, New York Sea Grant, State University of New York, Stony Brook, New York 11794-50022

Received 18 April 2000/Accepted 14 September 2000

We have applied molecular approaches, including PCR-based detection strategies and DNA fingerprinting methods, to study the ecology of Listeria monocytogenes in food processing environments. A total of 531 samples, including raw fish, fish during the cold-smoking process, finished product, and environmental samples, were collected from three smoked fish processing facilities during five visits to each facility. A total of 95 (17.9%) of the samples tested positive for L. monocytogenes using a commercial PCR system (BAX for Screening/Listeria monocytogenes), including 57 (27.7%) environmental samples (n = 206), 8 (7.8%) raw material samples (n = 102), 23 (18.1%) samples from fish in various stages of processing(n = 127), and 7 (7.3%) finished product samples (n = 96). L. monocytogenes was isolated from 85 samples (16.0%) using culture methods. Used in conjunction with a 48-h enrichment in Listeria Enrichment Broth, the PCR system had a sensitivity of 91.8% and a specificity of 96.2%. To track the origin and spread of L. monocytogenes, isolates were fingerprinted by automated ribotyping. Fifteen different ribotypes were identified among 85 isolates tested. Ribotyping data established possible contamination patterns, implicating raw materials and the processing environment as potential sources of finished product contamination. Analysis of the distribution of ribotypes revealed that each processing facility had a unique contamination pattern and that specific ribotypes persisted in the environments of two facilities over time (P <=  0.0006). We conclude that application of molecular approaches can provide critical information on the ecology of different L. monocytogenes strains in food processing environments. This information can be used to develop practical recommendations for improved control of this important food-borne pathogen in the food industry.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Department of Food Science, 412 Stocking Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853. Phone: (607) 254-2838. Fax: (607) 254-4868. E-mail: mw16{at}cornell.edu.

Applied and Environmental Microbiology, January 2001, p. 198-205, Vol. 67, No. 1
0099-2240/01/$04.00+0   DOI: 10.1128/AEM.67.1.198-205.2001
Copyright © 2001, American Society for Microbiology. All rights reserved.


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Copyright © 2001 by the American Society for Microbiology. All rights reserved.