Prevalence of Listeriosis in some farm animals

The study was carried out in animal farms located in North Coast and Desert Road, Egypt. A total of 175 faecal samples were collected from different species of farm animals for investigating the incidence of Listeria species. Samples were collected from private farms and small holders of dairy animals, including cattle (70), buffaloes (30), sheep (50) and goats (25). Results revealed 17.1% total incidence of Listeria species, where the incidence rate within the same animal species was higher among cattle (18.6%) followed by sheep (18.0%), buffaloes (16.7%) and goats (12.0%) at last. Moreover, the most recovered species was L. ivanovii (6.3%) followed by L. monocytogenes and L. grayi (4% for each of them), then L. innocua (2.9%). Results also showed that L. ivanovii and L. grayi were the most recovered species from cattle (5.7% for each) and buffaloes (6.7% for each), while the highest isolated species from sheep and goats were L. monocytogenes (8%) and L. ivanovii (8%), respectively. On the other side, L. monocytogenes could not recover from buffaloes and goats. Presence of Listeria species specially L. monocytogenes and L. ivanovii in faeces of farm animals attracts the attention to the way in which these wastes must be treated and dealt with in order to avoid contamination of milk and its further products that finally can carry the infection to man.