First Isolation and Identification of Listeria monocytogenes Isolated from Frozen and Shock Frozen Dressed Broiler Chicken in Sudan

Aim: To isolate and identify Listeria monocytogenes from frozen and shock frozen raw dressed broiler chicken in Khartoum State, Sudan.
Place and Duration of Study: Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Parasitology, Sudan University of Science and Technology, Khartoum-North, Sudan, between July 2011 and June 2012.
Methodology: Eight hundred samples were used in this the study. Five hundred frozen (-18º) raw dressed broiler chickens samples were collected from five station chicken abattoirs in Khartoum State. Three hundred samples were collected as fresh, -18ºC and shock frozen (-40ºC) raw dressed broiler chickens. Detection and isolation of L. monocytogenes was carried out using the conventional International Organization for Standardization method.
Results: Out of the 500 samples, 195(39%) were found to be contaminated with Iisteria spp.; L. monocytogenes 64(12.8%), Listeria ivanovii 97(19.4%), Listeria grayi 20(4%), Listeria seeligeri 5(1%), Listeria welshimeri 9(1.8%). Out of the 300 samples, 111(37%) were found to be contaminated with Iisteria spp.; L. monocytogenes 39(13%), Listeria ivanovii 54(18%), Listeria grayi 11(3.6%), Listeria seeligeri 3(1%) and Listeria welshimeri 4(1.3%).
Conclusion: The results presented in this study indicated that L. monocytogenes was found in frozen (-18ºC) raw dressed broiler chicken and shock frozen (-40ºC) raw dressed broiler chickens.