Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Umbria e delle Marche ''Togo Rosati''

Authors    Guidi F, Gattuso A, …, Duranti A, Roccheggiani E, Scuota S, Bazzucchi V, Napoleoni M, Lorenzetti C, Palombo B, di Pasquale A, Cammà C, Pomilio F, Blasi G

Abstract    Listeria monocytogenes (Lm) is a major foodborne pathogen causing human listeriosis, the most severe zoonoses with the highest hospitalization and fatality rates (EFSA ECDC 2021). Invasive forms of the disease are particularly dangerous for the elderly, immunocompromised people, newborns and pregnant women, leading to sepsis, meningitis, encephalitis, abortion and stillbirth (Camargo et al. 2019). To Date Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) allows an unprecedented subtyping resolution and is the best epidemiological surveillance tool in foodborne outbreak investigations and food monitoring programs. It completely replaced PFGE, for years considered the golden standard method for Lm typing. A joint ECDC-EFSA WGS database is being developed through the collaboration of Member States Competent Authorities for Lm. In Italy, the National Institute of Health (ISS) and the National Reference Laboratory for Lm (LNR-Lm) coordinate this activity. The Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Umbria e delle Marche through the Food Control Laboratory of Fermo, acts as the Regional Reference Centre where all the isolates from clinical cases, food and environment are sent to be collected and typed using WGS and bioinformatic analysis in collaboration with the LNR-Lm and the ISS. The aim of this paper is to report the results coming from this activity in the years 2019 and 2020.

Publish Date  2021

Volume     124

ISSN         1592-1581

URL           https://www.spvet.it/archivio/numero-124/717.html

Journal     Sanità Pubblica Veterinaria