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Page No. : 19-24

ABSTRACT

The present study was undertaken to study the occurrence and molecular characterization of Listeria monocytogenes from mutton and paneer sold at retail outlets of Kashmir. A total of 110samples (mutton-60, paneer-50) were tested for the presence of L. monocytogenes using a twostep enrichment procedure followed by plating on two selective agars (PALCAM and LSA). The organism was isolated from, three mutton samples with an overall prevalence of 2.72%. The prevalence in mutton was found to be 5%. L. monocytogenes was not isolated from any of the paneer sample. The confirmation of the organism was done on the basis of biochemical tests and by Christie, Atkins and Munch Petersen (CAMP) test. The isolates were subjected to PCR assay for virulence associated with hly A gene. The pathogenicity of the isolates was confirmed by demonstration of monocytosis and kerato-conjunctivitis in rabbits. The isolates recovered were sensitive to gentamicin, doxycycline, enrofloxacin, amoxycillin/clavulanic acid, ciprofloxacin, oxytetracycline ampicillin/cloxacillin, oxytetracycline and resistant to streptomycin, cefodoxime, cefotaxime.

Keywords: Antibiogram, Listeria monocytogenes, molecular characterization, pathogenicity