| Abstract: | The occurrence of Listeria monocytogenes in meat and milk samples, and antilisteriolysin O (ALLO) antibodies in sera of buffaloes were studied. Isolation of the pathogen was attempted from the samples by selective enrichment in University of Vermont Medium and plating onto Dominguez–Rodriguez isolation agar. The pathogenicity of the isolates was tested by Christie, Atkins, Munch Petersen test and mouse inoculation test. Of 167 meat samples 2.4 and 10.17% were positive for L. monocytogenes and Listeria sp., respectively. Of the 64 milk samples 6.25 and 26.13% were positive for L. monocytogenes and Listeria sp., respectively. A total of 284 serum samples were tested by listeriolysin O (LLO)‐based indirect enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay of which 25.35% were found to be seropositive. The culture positivity for L. monocytogenes and detection of ALLO did not show any agreement (κ=0.035). The prevalence of pathogenic L.monocytogenes in milk and meat and the occurrence of anti‐LLO antibodies is of concern from the public health point of view. |
