Species and serovars of the genus Listeria isolated from different sourcesin Brazil from 1971 to 1997

Using phenotype techniques, characterization was made to species and serc,l iar of 3,112 strains of Listeria, isolated from different sources of infect ion such as human (247-7.9%) aid animals (239-7.6%), as well as from variou s routes of infection, including food (2,330-74.8%) and environmental const ituents (296-9.5%), all coming from different regions of the country and co llected during the period 1971-1997 . The following species were recovered in the cultures analysed L. monocytogenes (774-24.8%), L. innocua (2,269-72 .9%), L. seeligeri (37-1.1%), L. welshimeri (22-0.7%), L. grayi (9-0.2%), a nd L. ivanovii (1-0.03%). L. monocytogenes was represented bl? ten serovars , the most prevalent being 4b (352-11.3%). 1/2a (162-5.2%), and 1/2b (148-4 .7%). The predominant serovar in L. innocua was 6a (2,093-67.2%). Considera tions about laboratory methods for diagnosis and epidemiological aspects ar e presented on the basis of the results obtained.