Occurrence of Listeria monocytogenes on the seafood contact surfaces of Tuticorin Coast of India.

Listeria monocytogenes was screened from different seafood contact surfaces in five sampling sites of fishing harbour, fish landing centers, seafood processing plants, fish market, and fish curing yards of Tuticorin Coast of India. 115 swab samples were collected and tested for the occurrence of L. monocytogenes by conventional and molecular methods. Overall, 5.22% of swab samples collected were positive for L. monocytogenes. The fishing harbour had high incidence (10.3%) of L. monocytogenes followed by fish landing centers (5.9%), and seafood processing plants (4.1%). Boat deck, fish transport tricycle were the two seafood contact surfaces in fishing harbour, which had the occurrence of L. monocytogenes. The swab samples from fish market and fish curing yards were negative for L. monocytogenes. All the isolated colonies of L. monocytogenes were confirmed by PCR assay targeting virulent hlyA gene. The DNA of all the isolates yielded a product of 174 bp on PCR amplification in comparison with L. monocytogenes Type culture (MTCC 1143). The results clearly indicated the occurrence of L. monocytogenes in seafood contact surfaces along the Tuticorin Coast of India.