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Aims The aim of this study was to evaluate the genetic diversity and resistance phenotypes of Listeria monocytogenes strains isolated from clinical encephalitis cases, and compare this population to isolates derived from tank milk of healthy animals. Methods and Results A total of 57 L. monocytogenes strains isolated from ruminant's listeriosis cases (n = 31) and from tank milk of healthy ruminants (n = 26) were characterized by species PCR, molecular serotyping, PCR detection of virulence genes, pulsed‐field gel electrophoresis and antimicrobial susceptibility testing. All strains possessed inlA, inlC, inlJ, plcA, actA, hlyA and iap virulence‐associated genes while serotyping analysis revealed that they were mainly assigned into IVb group. Genotyping revealed 50 pulsotypes among the 57 strains assigned into seven clusters while indistinguishable pulsotypes between clinical and milk strains were not identified. Resistance of L. monocytogenes isolates to 14–16 antimicrobial agents tested was observed and 23 antimicrobial resistance profiles (ARPs) were defined while no apparent predominant ARP type was observed among isolates. Conclusions Small ruminants are exposed to a broad range of antimicrobial‐resistant as well as genetically diverse strains of L. monocytogenes carrying virulence‐associated genes but not all of them associated with the disease. Pulsed‐field gel electrophoresis analysis suggests that pulsotypes associated with encephalitis are found in farms only in association with listeriosis. Significance and Impact of the Study These findings are valuable in understanding the ecology of this important food‐borne pathogen and creating awareness for the emerging antimicrobial resistance.

Energy-dispersive X-Ray fluorescence spectrometry was used to determine the concentrations of copper (Cu), zinc, iron and molybdenum in the liver of 76 sheep and goats from the regions of Macedonia-Thrace, northern Greece. In general, metal concentrations were in the adequate range, with one main exception of Cu-deficiency observed in all of the examined goat liver samples and Cu-toxicity found in 4 % of the sheep liver samples. One-way analysis of variance was carried out to determine significant differences among means depending on animal species, sex and age. Pearson correlation analysis was used to explore correlations between metal concentrations. The results obtained in the present study are discussed in the framework of diagnostic ranges, suggested for classifying the metal status of sheep and goats, and are compared with liver metal concentrations reported world-wide.

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