Investigation of Listeria monocytogenes and Listeria ivanovii infection in wild cage birds in Shahrekord by PCR

Most birds probably can carry Listeria spp. asymptomatically in their intestines with varying prevalence and can transmit the pathogens to human. The genus-listeria has two pathogenic species namely، L. monocytogenes and L. ivanovii. L. monocytogenes is a well-known cause of abortion، encephalitis and septicaemia in man and animals. L. ivanovii is an animal pathogen and in rare cases cause human infection. Hence، This study was conducted to determine the occurrence of pathogenic L. monocytogenes and L. ivanovii in wild cage birds faeces from Shahrekord. Altogether 103 samples of bird faeces were collected with sterile cotton swabs from different areas of Shahrekord، Iran. Swabs were placed directly into Listeria enrichment broth. Secondly enrichments were streaked on Palcam agar. Then evaluated to detect L. monocytogenes and L. ivanovii by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method. Neither L. monocytogenes nor L. ivanovii were found in birds of this study. The present result suggested that wild cage birds may have no role in the transmission of L. monocytogenes and L. ivanovii in the region.