Listeria Reference Services

Isolation, identification and typing of Listeria spp., with a focus on L. monocytogenes. - Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) * - Ribotyping -Serotyping of O-antigens and H-antigens * - DNA sequence-based typing

* These tests are ISO Accredited

NML: Isolate from blood, urine, and sterile body fluid cultures. HC-BMH: Clinical/human, animal, food or environmental samples.

Isolate provided on culture medium or food/environmental sample.

Send as growth on culture medium or in transport medium. Organisms should be sent as cultures. Food and environmental samples should be shipped in insulated containers on ice.

Patients with septicemia, meningitis, gastroenteritis, neonatal infections.

NML: Completed Enteric Diseases Program requisition form. HC-BMH: Contact Dr. Franco Pagotto Tel: (613) 957-0895; Fax: (613) 941–0280 Email: Franco_Pagotto@hc-sc.gc.ca More information: http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/res-rech/res-prog/microbio/listeria-eng.php

Major goals of the Listeriosis Reference Service include investigation of listeriosis cases and maintenance of a national collection of isolates. The LRS intends to create a comprehensive molecular epidemiological database of all isolates in Canada for use as a resource for outbreak investigations, research and other microbiologicalinvestigations. The PFGE profiles are being established and stored for clinical, food, environmental, and possibly animal strains of L. monocytogenes. The LRS pursues research activities for investigation and implementation of other molecular methods for characterizing L. monocytogenes isolates. Ribotyping, microarray- based technologies, MLVA and DNA sequence-based typing schemes are being investigated on selected diversity sets. The LRS participates in PulseNet Canada for real-time molecular surveillance for listeriosis, and utilizes PFGE typing for outbreak investigations. The molecular epidemiological data, timely coordination and exchange of information should help to reduce the incidence of listeriosis in Canada.

Differs for each test. Please see individual test information sheets.

1. Canadian Listeriosis Reference Service. Pagotto F, Ng LK, Clark C, Farber J; Canadian Public Health Laboratory Network. Foodborne Pathog Dis. 2006 Spring;3(1):132-137.