Disease Burden of Invasive Listeriosis and Molecular Characterization of Clinical Isolates in Taiwan, 2000-2013

Abstract

The information about disease burden and epidemiology of invasive listeriosis in Asia is scarce. From 2000 to 2013, a total of 338 patients with invasive listeriosis (bacteremia, meningitis, and peritonitis) were treated at four medical centers in Taiwan. The incidence (per 10,000 admissions) of invasive listeriosis increased significantly during the 14-year period among the four centers (0.15 in 2000 and >1.25 during 2010–2012) and at each of the four medical centers. Among these patients, 45.9% were elderly (>65 years old) and 3.3% were less than one year of age. More than one-third (36.7%) of the patients acquired invasive listeriosis in the spring (April to June). Among the 132 preserved Listeria monocytogenes isolates analyzed, the most frequently isolated PCR serogroup-sequence type (ST) was IIb-ST87 (23.5%), followed by IIa-ST378 (19.7%) and IIa-ST155 (12.1%). Isolation of PCR serogroups IIb and IVb increased significantly with year, with a predominance of IIb-ST87 isolates (23.5%) and IIb-ST 228 isolates emerging in 2013. A total of 12 different randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) patterns (Patterns I to XII) were identified among the 112 L. monocytogenes isolates belonging to eight main PCR serogroup-STs. Identical RAPD patterns were found among the isolates exhibiting the same PCR serogroup-ST. In conclusion, our study revealed that during 2000–2013, listeriosis at four medical centers in Taiwan was caused by heterogeneous strains and that the upsurge in incidence beginning in 2005 was caused by at least two predominant clones.

Prevalence and Genetic Characteristics of Meatborne Listeria monocytogenes Isolates from Livestock Farms in Korea

“…Based on the results of the multiplex PCR and agglutination assays, the serotypes of the L. monocytogenes isolates were determined. L. monocytogenes FI-1 and FI-3 were determined to be serotype 4ab, and L. monocytogenes FI-2 was determined to be 3a, which are 2 serotypes that are not commonly isolated from food products and humans (Huang et al , 2015; Zhang et al , 2007). …”

Occurrence, Antibiotic Resistance, and Population Diversity of Listeria monocytogenes Isolated From Fresh Aquatic Products in China

“…Isolates belonging to ST8/CC8 are also potential hypervirulent to humans, and are known to cause listeriosis in China as well as other countries ( Althaus et al, 2014 ; Jensen et al, 2016 ; Oxaran et al, 2017 ; Wang et al, 2018 ). Unlike western countries, in which the majority of clinical isolates mainly belong to CC1, CC2, CC6, CC4, and CC101, which have been demonstrated to be strongly associated with human listeriosis ( Maury et al, 2016 ; Hilliard et al, 2018 ; Kim et al, 2018 ), CC87 is predominant in human listeriosis in China ( Huang et al, 2015 ; Wang et al, 2018 ). These results demonstrate that potential virulent strains isolated from aquatic products pose a potential health risk to consumers in China.…”

Characteristics and distribution of Listeria spp., including Listeria species newly described since 2009

“…Most species within Listeria sensu strictu are well documented to be widely distributed and commonly found in different environments. L. monocytogenes has been isolated throughout the world, including in North America (Chapin et al 2014 ; Sauders et al 2012 ; Stea et al 2015 ), South America (Hofer et al 2000 ; Montero et al 2015 ; Ruiz-Bolivar et al 2011 ; Vallim et al 2015 ), Europe (Gnat et al 2015 ; Linke et al 2014 ), Asia (Huang et al 2015 ; Sugiri et al 2014 ; Tango et al 2014 ), Africa (Ahmed et al 2013 ; Hmaied et al 2014 ; Ndahi et al 2014 ), and Oceania (McAuley et al 2014 ). Human listeriosis cases have been reported throughout the world, including Africa, Oceania, South America, North America, Europe, and Asia (Ariza-Miguel et al 2015 ; Barbosa et al 2015 ; Hmaied et al 2014 ; Huang et al 2015 ; Lomonaco et al 2015 ; Najjar et al 2015 ; Negi et al 2015 ; Ramdani-Bouguessa and Rahal 2000 ; Scallan et al 2015a ; Scallan et al 2015b ).…”

“…L. monocytogenes has been isolated throughout the world, including in North America (Chapin et al 2014 ; Sauders et al 2012 ; Stea et al 2015 ), South America (Hofer et al 2000 ; Montero et al 2015 ; Ruiz-Bolivar et al 2011 ; Vallim et al 2015 ), Europe (Gnat et al 2015 ; Linke et al 2014 ), Asia (Huang et al 2015 ; Sugiri et al 2014 ; Tango et al 2014 ), Africa (Ahmed et al 2013 ; Hmaied et al 2014 ; Ndahi et al 2014 ), and Oceania (McAuley et al 2014 ). Human listeriosis cases have been reported throughout the world, including Africa, Oceania, South America, North America, Europe, and Asia (Ariza-Miguel et al 2015 ; Barbosa et al 2015 ; Hmaied et al 2014 ; Huang et al 2015 ; Lomonaco et al 2015 ; Najjar et al 2015 ; Negi et al 2015 ; Ramdani-Bouguessa and Rahal 2000 ; Scallan et al 2015a ; Scallan et al 2015b ). Similarly, animal listeriosis cases caused by L. monocytogenes have also been reported throughout the world, including Africa (Akpavie and Ikheloa 1992 ; Meredith and Schneider 1984 ; Schroeder and van Rensburg 1993 ), South America (Headley et al 2013 ; Headley et al 2014 ), North America (Wiedmann et al 1997 ; Wiedmann et al 1994 ; Wiedmann et al 1999 ; Woo-Sam 1999 ), Asia (Gu et al 2015 ; Malik et al 2002 ), Oceania (Fairley and Colson 2013 ; Fairley et al 2012 ), and Europe (Rocha et al 2013 ; Vela et al 2001 ; Wagner et al 2005 ).…”