Real-time whole-genome sequencing for surveillance of Listeria monocytogenes, France

Publié le 1 septembre 2017
Mis à jour le 6 septembre 2021

During 2015-2016, we evaluated the performance of whole-genome sequencing (WGS) as a routine typing tool. Its added value for microbiological and epidemiologic surveillance of listeriosis was compared with that for pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), the current standard method. A total of 2,743 Listeria monocytogenes isolates collected as part of routine surveillance were characterized in parallel by PFGE and core genome multilocus sequence typing (cgMLST) extracted from WGS. We investigated PFGE and cgMLST clusters containing human isolates. Discrimination of isolates was significantly higher by cgMLST than by PFGE (p<0.001). cgMLST discriminated unrelated isolates that shared identical PFGE profiles and phylogenetically closely related isolates with distinct PFGE profiles. This procedure also refined epidemiologic investigations to include only phylogenetically closely related isolates, improved source identification, and facilitated epidemiologic investigations, enabling identification of more outbreaks at earlier stages. WGS-based typing should replace PFGE as the primary typing method for L. monocytogenes.

Auteur : Moura Alexandra, Tourdjman Mathieu, Leclercq Alexandre, Hamelin Estelle, Laurent Edith, Fredriksen Nathalie, Van Cauteren Dieter, Bracq-Dieye Helene, Thouvenot Pierre, Vales Guillaume, Tessaud-Rita Nathalie, Maury Mylene M, Alexandru Andreea, Criscuolo Alexis, Quevillon Emmanuel, Donguy Marie-Pierre, Enouf Vincent, de Valk Henriette, Brisse Sylvain, Lecuit Marc
Emerging Infectious Diseases, 2017, vol. 23, n°. 9, p. 1462-1470