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Real-time application of automated ribotyping and DNA macrorestriction analysis in the setting of a listeriosis outbreak

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 September 2003

T. J. J. INGLIS
Affiliation:
Division of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, PathCentre, Nedlands, WA, Australia
A. CLAIR
Affiliation:
Division of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, PathCentre, Nedlands, WA, Australia
J. SAMPSON
Affiliation:
Division of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, PathCentre, Nedlands, WA, Australia
L. O'REILLY
Affiliation:
Division of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, PathCentre, Nedlands, WA, Australia
S. VANDENBERG
Affiliation:
Division of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, PathCentre, Nedlands, WA, Australia
K. LEIGHTON
Affiliation:
Environmental Health Branch, Department of Health, WA, Australia
A. WATSON
Affiliation:
Disease Control Branch, Department of Health, WA, Australia
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Abstract

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A cluster of three cases of listeriosis cases occurred against a background of endemic listeriosis in Western Australia. Human and environmental isolates of Listeria monocytogenes obtained during the outbreak investigation were rapidly subtyped by automated ribotyping using an EcoRI protocol and a RiboPrinter®. DNA macrorestriction analysis by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) was used to confirm the relatedness of isolates. Serogroup 1/2 predominated among the food samples and the four clinical isolates from the outbreak cluster were also of this serogroup. All isolates from chicken material were serogroup 1/2 and indistinguishable by ribotype pattern. PFGE subdivided strains of this ribotype into four subtypes. The preliminary analysis had an immediate impact on hypothesis generation, environmental health investigations, environmental specimen collection and initial control measures. Sufficient typing data to guide environmental health and disease control initiatives was generated in less than one week by combining automated ribotyping with PCR-based detection of L. monocytogenes in suspect foodstuffs and an L. monocytogenes DNA probe. There were no further cases of bacteriologically confirmed listeriosis in Western Australia for six months after completion of the investigation.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
© 2003 Cambridge University Press