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The discrimination between Listeria monocytogenes and Listeria species has been detected. The 16S rRNA and hlyA were PCR amplified with set of oligonucleotide primers with flank 1,500 and 456 bp fragments, respectively. Based on the differences in 16S rRNA and hlyA genes, a total 80 isolates from different environmental, food and clinical samples confirmed it to be L. monocytogenes. The 16S rRNA sequence similarity suggested that the isolates were similar to the previously reported ones from different habitats by others. The phylogenetic interrelationships of the genus Listeria were investigated by sequencing of 16S rRNA and hlyA gene. The 16S rRNA sequence indicated that genus Listeria is comprised of following closely related but distinct lines of descent, one is the L. monocytogenes species group (including L. innocua, L. ivanovii, L. seeligeri and L. welshimeri) and other, the species L. grayi, L. rocourtiae and L. fleischmannii. The phylogenetic tree based on hlyA gene sequence clearly differentiates between the L. monocytogenes, L. ivanovii and L. seeligeri. In the present study, we identified 80 isolates of L. monocytogenes originating from different clinical, food and environmental samples based on 16S rRNA and hlyA gene sequence similarity.

Background Listeria monocytogenes, a foodborne pathogen is ubiquitous to different environments including the agroecosystem. The organism poses serious public health problem. Therefore, an attempt has been made to gain further insight to their antibiotic susceptibility, serotypes and the virulence genes. Results Out of the 10 vegetables selected, 6 (brinjal, cauliflower, dolichos-bean, tomato, chappan-kaddu and chilli), 20 isolates (10%) tested positive for L. monocytogenes. The prevalence of the pathogen in the respective rhizosphere soil samples was 5%. Noticeably, L. monocytogenes was absent from only cabbage, broccoli, palak and cowpea, and also the respective rhizospheric soils. The 30 isolates + ve for pathogenicity, belonged to serogroup 4b, 4d or 4e, and all were positive for inlA, inlC, inlJ, plcA, prfA, actA, hlyA and iap gene except one (VC3) among the vegetable isolates that lacked the plcA gene. ERIC- and REP-PCR collectively revealed that isolates from vegetables and their respective rhizospheric soils had distinct PCR fingerprints. Conclusions The study demonstrates the prevalence of pathogenic L. monocytogenes in the selected agricultural farm samples. The increase in the number of strains resistant to ciprofloxacin and/or cefoxitin seems to pose serious public health consequences.