Listeria monocytogenes in Cooked Chicken: Detection of an Outbreak in the United Kingdom (2016 to 2017) and Analysis of L. monocytogenes from Unrelated Monitoring of Foods (2013 to 2017)

J. McLauchlin*, H. Aird, C. Amar, C. Barker, T. Dallman, N. Elviss, F. Jørgensen, C. Willis

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

20 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

In England and Wales, Public Health England applies whole genome sequencing to cultures of Listeria monocytogenes recovered from human cases of listeriosis, foods, and food production environments. Following the routine inspection of a small retailer in February and March 2016, two unopened packs of cooked chicken produced by the same manufacturer were found to be contaminated with L. monocytogenes at levels of 340 and 20 CFU/g. A public recall of this product was issued in March 2016. Early in 2017, a less than five single-nucleotide polymorphism single-linkage cluster was detected between the L. monocytogenes isolates from the two cooked chicken products and cultures from five cases of human listeriosis in England and Scotland with onsets of illness between March 2016 and February 2017. Epidemiological data provided further supportive evidence that this cluster was an outbreak linked to a manufacturer of cooked chicken whose products were supplied to the small retailer that initiated the outbreak investigation. Unrelated to this outbreak, 34 L. monocytogenes isolates recovered from routine food monitoring of 2,007 samples of cooked chicken during 2013 to 2017 were analyzed by whole genome sequencing. Previously undetected fewer than five single-nucleotide polymorphism single-linkage clusters were identified between cultures from cooked chicken and with those from two clusters and two sporadic cases of human listeriosis that were consistent with foodborne transmission. This analysis identified linkage of L. monocytogenes clusters within specific food chains more readily than traditional manual tracing. Linking of data associated with L. monocytogenes cultures from cases of listeriosis with those from unrelated food testing is a unique source of information for communicable disease risk assessment, epidemiological studies, and disease prevention and control. This report provides further evidence that should act as a reminder of the association between cooked chicken consumption and human listeriosis.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2041-2052
Number of pages12
JournalJournal of Food Protection
Volume83
Issue number12
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Dec 2020

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
The authors thank staff in Environmental Health Departments and Port Health Authorities throughout England; staff in the PHE Food, Water and Environmental Microbiology Services laboratories, and staff elsewhere in PHE for their contributions to this study; Roger Griffiths (National LIMS Operational Manager) in PHE Data and Analytical Services for database manipulation, Ameze Simbo and Lisa Byrne for epidemiological information, and Debbie Charles (Food, Water & Environmental Services, Public Health Wales) for additional data. The authors also thank members of the multiagency Outbreak Control Team for their valuable contribution in investigating the outbreak. C. Barker and T. Dallman are affiliated to the National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Research Unit (NIHR HPRU) in Gastrointestinal Infections at University of Liverpool in partnership with Public Health England (PHE), in collaboration with University of East Anglia, University of Oxford, and the Quadram Institute. The views expressed are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the NHS, the NIHR, the Department of Health and Social Care, or PHE.

Publisher Copyright:
Copyright Ó, Her Majesty the Queen,

Keywords

  • Cooked chicken
  • Human listeriosis
  • Listeria monocytogenes
  • Monitoring
  • Surveillance
  • Whole genome sequencing

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