Antibiotic resistance and phage sensitivity of topical listeriosis pathogens

Relevance. The problem of listeriosis infection continues to be relevant in epizootology and epidemiology. Resistance to eradication of Listeria spp. due to the ability of the bacterium to adapt and persist in various environments, as well as its intracellular location and weak intracellular diffusion of some antibiotics. Listeriosis refers to saprozoonoses, listeria often seed food products. As a pathogen of animal origin, Listeria is of concern not only from the point of view of public health and biosafety of products, but also as a causative agent of animal disease, leading to serious economic losses. The haphazard use of antibiotics to combat listeriosis has led to a change in the background of drug sensitivity. The aim of the work was to determine the antibiotic resistance of topical listeria strains and their sensitivity to bacteriophages to substantiate the prospects of phage treatments in the fight against listeriosis infection.

Methods. The methodology is based on routine bacteriological studies, spot tests and sensitivity determination by the disco-diffusion method with 132 Listeria spp pathogens.

Results. Multiple antibiotic resistance to fosfomycin, meropenem, cefotaxime, bacitracin, tylosin, cephalexin, polymyxin-B, lincomycin, benzylpenicillin, cefpirom, cefaclor and other drugs was noted. Listeria phagolysis was established by bacteriophages of our collection Lm1 (97.70%), Lm2 (96.20%). These bacteriophages are deposited in the collection of the Federal Scientific Centre VIEV. Thus, the aim of the study was to expand knowledge about listeriosis bacteriophages and their use as an effective method of prevention, treatment and control of listeriosis infections in the food and livestock industry.

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