Identification of closely related Listeria monocytogenes isolates with no apparent evidence for a common source or location: a retrospective WGS analysis

What is it about?

Whole genome sequencing (WGS) has been increasingly used in traceback investigations and root cause analyses involving foodborne pathogens such as Listeria monocytogenes. In this paper, we show the identification, using WGS, of closely related L. monocytogenes isolates that either (i) were isolated from a common geolocation but from different type of sources, or (ii) were isolated from a similar type of source but from different geolocations, or (iii) were isolated from different type of sources and from different geolocations. These findings suggest that some L. monocytogenes subtypes may be associated with specific geolocations or type of source while other subtypes may be widespread across geolocations and source types. Therefore, epidemiological evidence should also be used to assess whether two or more L. monocytogenes isolates share a common origin.

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