PRESENCE OF Listeria monocytogenes IN HEALTHY CATTLE AT SLAUGHTERING: FIRST RESULTS

Listeria monocytogenes is an ubiquitous pathogen occasionally present in the intestinal tract of various animal species. The aim of this study was to assess the incidence of Listeria spp. and Listeria monocytogenes in faeces of healthy cattle at slaughtering. Listeria spp. was isolated in 18 out of 220 (8.2%) faecal samples, and Listeria monocytogenes was isolated in 3 faecal samples (1.4%). From the 220 faecal samples were also isolated 9 strains of L. grayi, 4 strains of L. innocua and 2 strains of L. ivanovii. Although limited, our results show that animal faeces can represent a source of L. monocytogenes contamination of carcasses in abattoirs and can be a potential hazard to human health