Ribotype analysis of strain distribution in Listeria monocytogenes

Changes in the temporal and spatial patterns of strain distribution for the foodborne pathogen Listeria monocytogenes were studied by ribotyping using the Qualicon Riboprinter system. Ribotype patterns were obtained by using the restriction enzymes EcoRI and PvuII for 72 isolates of L. monocytogenes recovered from smoked salmon samples over a period of 3 years. Each patter n was classified both by comparison to a pattern library and by comparison among the 72 isolate patterns. Eleven EcoRI-based ribogroups and 16 PvuII g roups were identified. Eight of the 11 EcoRI ribogroups were found in isola tes obtained over a period of >12 months, and 75% of the EcoRI ribogroups t hat were found in more than one food sample were distributed nationally. Wi thin the set of isolates, there were 26 instances where more than one isola te was obtained from a single food sample. In 35% of these instances, the c o-isolates produced different ribotype patterns, indicating that multiple s trains of L. monocytogenes commonly coexist in the same environment. Overal l, these data indicate that the population of L. monocytogenes consists of a number of widely dispersed strains with little geographic or temporal str atification.