Comparative characterization of Listeria monocytogenes isolated from Portuguese farmhouse ewe's cheese and from humans

In order to investigate the possible relationships between Listeria monocytogenes strains isolated from farmhouse ewe's cheese and clinical strains collected, in partially overlapping dates, from the same geographical area in Portugal, a total of 109 isolates from seven ewe's cheese manufactures (n = 94) and from humans (n = 15) were characterized by serotyping, RAPD, PFGE and allelic analysis of the virulent actA gene. Serotyping indicated the presence of four different serovars: 1/2a, 1/2b, 1/2c and 4b. The 15 clinical isolates were either serovar 4b (86.7%) or serovar 1/2b (13.3%). Among the 94 isolates from cheese and related environments the serovars prevalence was 1/2a (1.1%), 1/2b (17.0%), 1/2c (12.8%) and, unexpectedly, 4b (69.1%). Based on results obtained with PFGE typing of the strains, 25 genotypes were identified, 10 from farmhouses and 15 from human cases. Isolates from serovars 1/2a and 1/2c were assigned to single genotypes, respectively. Within serovars 1/2b and 4b three and 20 genotypes were established, respectively. RAPD typing of the isolates rendered 18 types indicating the lack of accuracy of the primers used in strain differentiation within serovar 4b. The actA gene typing of the strains showed a prevalence of actA gene type I (90.4%) compared with the rest of the strains that were all actA gene type II (9.6%). In spite of the fact that all the farmhouses were completely independent, the distribution of L. monocytogenes genotypes, intra and inter cheese manufactures, was relatively homogeneous, suggesting the existence of resident strains. In contrast, among human isolates there was a great genetic diversity. There was no common genotype between L. monocytogenes implicated in the cases of listeriosis and these cheese-related isolates, suggesting the absence of a causal relationship.