Differentiation of Listeria monocytogenes strains by the method of multiplex polymerase chain reaction

Abstract

Background. Recently the great interest is given to studying of bacteria Listeria monocytogenes in connection with its increasing role in perinatal and neonatal pathology, ability to cause severe forms of diseases, massive contamination and accumulation in food. Methods. The strains of L. monocytogenes allocated in the Far East and in the European part of Russia are used. Antigen properties of cultures were defined in linear reaction of agglutination by typical polyvalent and monovalent (1^st and 2^nd serotypes) Russian listeri-ous serum. Further serotyping was done by multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Results. The research done by the method of multiplex PCR have allowed to characterize the structure of populations of L. monocytogenes, than linear reaction of agglutination and to show the prevalence of epidemically important serotype 4b in the Far East. So, 39 from 52 cultures (75 %) of L. monocytogenes allocated in the Far East were 4b serovariant, 10 cultures - were 1/2а serovariant, 2 cultures - 1/2b serovariant and 1 culture - 1/2с serovariant. Among the isolated in the European part of Russia 7 of 17 cultures (41.2 %) were 1/2a serovariant, 5 cultures - 4b serovariant, 3 cultures - 1/2c serovariant and 2 cultures - 1/2b serovariant. Conclusions. By the use of the method of multiplex polymerase chain reaction the variety of the Listeria strains circulating in different geographical territories was shown, with the differentiation of epidemically significant and dangerous to the human clonal variants of the microorganism. This method can be used in practical and scientific works for differentiation and estimation of the variety of Listeria cultures.