Full Length Research Paper

Prevalence, antimicrobial resistance profiles of Listeria monocytognes from various foods in Gaborone, Botswana

Morobe, I. C.^{1, 3}, Obi, C. L.²*, Nyila, M. A.¹, Gashe, B. A.³ and

Matsheka, M. I.³

¹School of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Department of Life and consumer Sciences, University of South Africa, Pretoria, South Africa.

²Academic and Research Directorate, Walter Sisulu University, Nelson Mandela Drive Mthata, Eastern Cape, South Africa.

³Department of Biological Sciences, University of Botswana, Mabutu Drive, Private Bag UB00704 Gaborone, Botswana.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: lobi@wsu.ac.za.

Accepted 10 April, 2008

   Abstract

Listeria monocytogenes is known to cause epidemic and sporadic cases of listeriosis. The present study investigated the occurrence, antibiograms and molecular serotypes of the organism in various retail outlets in Gaborone, Botswana. Food samples were obtained randomly from selected supermarkets and street vendors in 5 geographical areas of Gaborone from May, 2007 to September 2007. L. monocytogenes was isolated and positively identified by using morphological and biochemical tests. From a total of 1324 food samples tested 57(4.3 %) were positive for L. monocytogenes. Out of the 57 isolates of L. monocytogenes 7 (12.3%), 3 (5.3%), 0 (0%), 27 (47.4%) and 20 (35.1%) were isolated from cheese, raw milk, meat (biltong), frozen cabbage and salad (coleslaw), respectively. From the 5 geographical areas selected for sampling in this study, Gaborone South recorded the highest number 19 (33.3%) of L. monocytogenes isolates while Gaborone West recorded the least, 7 (12.3%). The findings in this study reveal the presence of L. monocytogenes serotypes 1/2a and 1/2b in ready to eat food and highlight the need for education and training programmes in food safety in Gaborone, Botswana.

Key words: Listeria monocytogenes, antibiotic resistance, molecular serotyping, food, Botswana.