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Background <p>The presence of <i>Listeria</i> spp. in raw fish poses a significant food safety risk, primarily due to the pathogenic potential of <i>Listeria monocytogenes</i>. However, comprehensive data on the virulence characteristics of <i>Listeria</i> populations, including non-<i>monocytogenes</i> species, isolated from raw fish in Poland are limited. This study aimed to characterize a collection of <i>Listeria</i> spp. isolates by assessing their virulence gene profiles, biofilm-forming capabilities, and cytotoxic potential to better understand the public health risk associated with their presence in the aquatic food chain.</p> Results <p>A total of 104 <i>Listeria</i> spp. isolates (<i>L. monocytogenes</i> <i>n</i> = 24, <i>L. seeligeri</i> <i>n</i> = 36, <i>L. welshimeri</i> <i>n</i> = 30, <i>L. innocua</i> <i>n</i> = 14) were analyzed. A clear demarcation in pathogenic potential was observed: <i>L. monocytogenes</i> isolates universally harbored key virulence determinants, with 95.8% carrying a complete <i>Listeria</i> Pathogenicity Island 1 (LIPI-1), and all belonging to the clinically relevant serogroup 1/2a-3c. This genetic potential was confirmed phenotypically, as cytotoxic activity against four eukaryotic cell lines was exclusively observed in this species. In contrast, other <i>Listeria</i> species were non-cytotoxic, although they carried isolated virulence genes (<i>plcA</i>, <i>mpl</i>), suggesting a role as an environmental reservoir. Biofilm formation was a common trait across all species, with 69.2% of isolates demonstrating this ability in a quantitative assay. However, this phenotype was not significantly associated with the presence of the <i>luxS</i> gene (<i>p</i> &gt; 0.05).</p> Conclusions <p>Raw fish sold in Poland are a probable vehicle for highly virulent <i>L. monocytogenes</i> strains equipped with a full genetic potential for causing human disease. The widespread ability of all <i>Listeria</i> species to form biofilms highlights a critical mechanism for persistence in food processing environments, where non-pathogenic species may shelter the primary pathogen. These findings underscore the necessity for extensive surveillance and control strategies targeting the entire <i>Listeria</i> genus to mitigate the public health risk associated with raw fish consumption.</p>

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Virulence, cytotoxicity potential and biofilm production ability of Listeria spp. isolated from raw fish in Poland

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

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  • 发表日期：

    2026年3月6日

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  • Marta Sołtysiuk,
  • Paulina Przyborowska,
  • Agnieszka Wiszniewska-Łaszczych,
  • Dawid Tobolski

摘要

Background

The presence of Listeria spp. in raw fish poses a significant food safety risk, primarily due to the pathogenic potential of Listeria monocytogenes. However, comprehensive data on the virulence characteristics of Listeria populations, including non-monocytogenes species, isolated from raw fish in Poland are limited. This study aimed to characterize a collection of Listeria spp. isolates by assessing their virulence gene profiles, biofilm-forming capabilities, and cytotoxic potential to better understand the public health risk associated with their presence in the aquatic food chain.

Results

A total of 104 Listeria spp. isolates (L. monocytogenes n = 24, L. seeligeri n = 36, L. welshimeri n = 30, L. innocua n = 14) were analyzed. A clear demarcation in pathogenic potential was observed: L. monocytogenes isolates universally harbored key virulence determinants, with 95.8% carrying a complete Listeria Pathogenicity Island 1 (LIPI-1), and all belonging to the clinically relevant serogroup 1/2a-3c. This genetic potential was confirmed phenotypically, as cytotoxic activity against four eukaryotic cell lines was exclusively observed in this species. In contrast, other Listeria species were non-cytotoxic, although they carried isolated virulence genes (plcA, mpl), suggesting a role as an environmental reservoir. Biofilm formation was a common trait across all species, with 69.2% of isolates demonstrating this ability in a quantitative assay. However, this phenotype was not significantly associated with the presence of the luxS gene (p > 0.05).

Conclusions

Raw fish sold in Poland are a probable vehicle for highly virulent L. monocytogenes strains equipped with a full genetic potential for causing human disease. The widespread ability of all Listeria species to form biofilms highlights a critical mechanism for persistence in food processing environments, where non-pathogenic species may shelter the primary pathogen. These findings underscore the necessity for extensive surveillance and control strategies targeting the entire Listeria genus to mitigate the public health risk associated with raw fish consumption.