Genetic diversity of human strains of Listeria monocytogenes in the Czech Republic in 2016–2020
Authors:
L. Hlucháňová 1,2; T. Gelbíčová 3; R. Karpíšková 3*
Authors‘ workplace:
Výzkumný ústav veterinárního lékařství, v. v. i., Brno
1; Ústav hygieny a technologie potravin živočišného původu a gastronomie, Fakulta veterinární hygieny a ekologie, Veterinární univerzita Brno
2; Ústav ochrany a podpory zdraví, Lékařská fakulta, Masarykova univerzita, Brno
3
Published in:
Epidemiol. Mikrobiol. Imunol. 71, 2022, č. 2, s. 102-108
Category:
Original Papers
Overview
Study aim: To determine the genetic diversity of human isolates of Listeria monocytogenes obtained in 2016–2020 from clinical laboratories in various locations of the Czech Republic with a focus on their possible epidemic links and virulence using whole genome sequencing data.
Methods: A total of 102 human L. monocytogenes isolates, serotyped by slide agglutination in combination with multiplex PCR serotyping, were used in this study. Whole genome sequencing was performed retrospectively, and based on the obtained data, the clonal relatedness of the tested strains and the presence of virulence genes were assessed using the Ridom SeqSphere+ software.
Results: In 2016-2020, 102 human isolates of L. monocytogenes were characterized, which represented 65% of all cases of listeriosis reported to the ISIN/EPIDAT systems in the Czech Republic in the monitored period. Serotype 1/2a (57%) was dominant, followed by serotype 4b (30%). Strains of serotype 1/2b (12%) and 1/2c (1%) were rarely detected. Based on the analysis of whole genome sequencing data, the strains were assigned to 26 clonal complexes and 27 sequence types. The cgMLST (core genome Multi-Locus Sequence Typing) analysis revealed four clusters of more than three strains, showing high relatedness (differences up to 10 alleles) with a possible epidemic link. The presence of all key virulence genes was confirmed in all strains. Only three strains (of serotypes 1/2a, 1/2b, and 1/2c) carried a point mutation in the inlA gene responsible for the expression of truncated internalin A protein, which is involved in the mechanism of intestinal barrier crossing by L. monocytogenes.
Conclusion: Molecular epidemiology based on whole genome sequencing is an effective tool to study the population structure of L. monocytogenes strains. This study found high heterogeneity of human L. monocytogenes strains, especially for serotype 1/2a, dominant in the Czech Republic. Several clusters with a possible epidemic link have been identified, and their occurrence will be further monitored.
Keywords:
Listeria monocytogenes – whole genome sequencing – listeriosis – serotyping – virulence
Sources
1. Commission implementing decision (EU) 2018/945 of 22 June 2018 on the communicable diseases and related special health issues to be covered by epidemiological surveillance as well as relevant case definitions. Official Journal of the European Union, 2018;L170/1:1–74.
2. Halbedel S, Wilking H, Holzer A, et al. Large nationwide outbreak of invasive listeriosis associated with blood sausage, Germany, 2018–2019. Emerg Infect Dis., 2020;26(7):1456–1464. 3. European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control: Surveillance atlas of infectious diseases 2019 [online]. [cit 2021-04-15] Dostupné na www:
3. European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control: Surveillance atlas of infectious diseases 2019 [online]. [cit 2021-04-15] Dostupné na www:<http://atlas.ecdc.europa.eu/public/index.aspx.
4. Desai AN, Anyoha A, Madoff LC, et al. Changing epidemiology of Listeria monocytogenes outbreaks, sporadic cases, and recalls globally: A review of ProMED reports from 1996 to 2018. Int Jl Infect Dis., 2019;84:48–53.
5. Thomas J, Govender N, McCarthy KM, et al. Outbreak of listeriosis in South Africa associated with processed meat. N Engl JMed.,2020;382(7):632–643.
6. Gelbíčová T, Zobaníková M, Tomáštíková Z, et al. An outbreak of listeriosis linked to turkey meat products in the Czech Republic, 2012–2016. Epidemiol Infect., 2018;146(11): 1407–1412.
7. Jágrová Z, Karpíšková R, Marešová M, et al. Nozokomiální přenos listeriózy. Epidemiol Mikrobiol Imunol., 2014;63(2):113–115.
8. Tomáštíková Z, Gelbíčová T, Karpíšková R. Population structure of Listeria monocytogenes isolated from human listeriosis cases and from ready-to-eat foods in the Czech Republic. J Food Nutrit Res., 2019;58(2):99–106.
9. Lüth S, Kleta S, Al Dahouk S. Whole genome sequencing as a typing tool for foodborne pathogens like Listeria monocytogenes – The way towards global harmonisation and data exchange. Trends Food Sci Technol., 2018;73:67–75.
10. Doumith M, Buchrieser C, Glaser P, et al. Differentiation of the major Listeria monocytogenes serovars by multiplex PCR. J Clin Microbiol., 2004;42(8):3819–3822.
11. Ruppitsch W, Pietzka A, Prior K, et al. Defining and evaluation a core genome multilocus sequence typing scheme for whole-genome sequence-based typing of Listeria monocytogenes. J Clin Microbiol., 2015;53(9):2869–2876.
12. Institut Pasteur: Institut Pasteur MLST and whole genome MLST databases [online]. [cit 2021-04-22] Dostupné na www:<https://bigsdb.pasteur.fr/listeria/listeria.html.
13. Státní zdravotní ústav: ISIN (Informační systém infekční nemoci) [online]. [cit 2021-04-06] Dostupné na www: <http:// szu.cz/publikace/data/infekce-v-cr.
14. Gelbíčová T, Tomáštíková Z, Karpíšková R. Molekulárně epidemiologická charakteristika a diverzita Listeria monocytogenes v humánní populaci České republiky v letech 2013–2016. Epidemiol Mikrobiol Imunol., 2017;66(3):146–148.
15. Kuch A, Goc A, Belkiewicz K, et al. Molecular diversity and antimicrobial susceptibility of Listeria monocytogenes isolates from invasive infections in Poland (1997–2013). Sci Rep., 2018;8(1):14562.
16. Halbedel S, Prager R, Banerji S, et al. A Listeria monocytogenes ST2 clone lacking chitinase ChiB from an outbreak of non-invasive gastroenteritis. Emerg Microbes Infect., 2019;8:17–28.
17. European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control and European Food Safety Authority. Multi-country outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes sequence type 8 infections linked to consumption of cold – smoked fish products [online]. 2019-06-04 [cit 2021-04-12] Dostupné na www: <https:// ecdc.europa.eu/en/publications-data/multi-country-outbreak-listeria-monocytogenes-fish-products.
18. European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control: EpiPulse – the European surveillance portal for infectious diseases. [online]. [cit 2021-07-27]. Dostupné na www: <https:// ecdc.europa.eu/en/publications-data/epipulse-european-surveillance-portal-infectious-diseases.
19. Stessl B, Fricker M, Fox E, et al. Collaborative survey on the colonization of different types of cheese-processing facilities with Listeria monocytogenes. Foodborne Pathog Dis., 2014;11(1): 8–14.
20. Guidi F, Orsini M, Chiaverini A, et al. Hypo- and hyper-virulent Listeria monocytogenes clones persisting in two different food processing plants of Central Italy. Microorganisms, 2021;9(2):376.
21. Gelbicova T, Hluchanova L, Kalova A, et al. Dlouhodobé přežívání Listeria monocytogenes v mlékárenských provozech. Mlékařské listy, 2020;31(6):13–17.
22. VanStelten A, Roberts AR, Manuel CS, et al. Listeria monocytogenes isolates carrying virulence-attenuating mutations in Internalin A are commonly isolated from ready-to-eat food processing plant and retail environments. J Food Prot., 2016;79(10):1733–1740.
Labels
Hygiene and epidemiology Medical virology Clinical microbiologyArticle was published in
Epidemiology, Microbiology, Immunology
2022 Issue 2
Most read in this issue
- Candida glabrata – basic characteristics, virulence, treatment, and resistance
- Incidence of tuberculosis among HIV-positive persons in the Czech Republic between 2000 and 2020
- Norovirus infections in the Czech Republic in 2008–2020
- Monitoring changes in invasive disease caused by Haemophilus influenzae in the Czech Republic between 1999 and 2020