2024 Vol. 30 No.2 PP 253-259

https://doi.org/10.33451/florafauna.v30i2pp253-259

Occurrence of Listeria species isolated from raw vegetable samples and its distribution

Azlee Fatma¹, Ajay Kumar Singh², Anupriya Paul3 and *Harison Masih¹ The investigation focuses on Listeria species and Listeria monocytogenes from vegetable samples that are usually associated with outbreaks of food-borne disease i.e., listeriosis. Different raw vegetables were collected viz., e.g., spinach, carrot, cabbage, cauliflower, and coriander leaves. The ISO-11290(1) method was used for the isolation and identification of Listeria species through morphological and biochemical analysis of isolates. The overall prevalence of total Listeria species and Listeria monocytogenes were 8.5% (34/400) and 4.8% (19/400) respectively. The frequency percentage of Listeria species viz., Spinach, 13.8%; carrot and cabbage, 8.8%; cauliflower, 6.3% and 5%, coriander leaves. L. monocytogenes frequency percentage was 8.75%, spinach followed by carrot and coriander leaves, 5%; 3.75%, cabbage; and the least in cauliflower, 1.25%. The majority of Listeria species were isolated throughout the spring and winter seasons in terms of seasonal variations, carrots, and cabbage were the next most common foods to contain Listeria monocytogenes during the monsoon season after spinach and coriander leaves. From the above findings, it is concluded that spinach was found to be more prevalent for L. monocytogenes along with other positive samples which increases risks associated with the consumption of raw vegetables.

KEY WORDS : Food-borne disease, Listeria monocytogenes, Raw vegetables.