Genomic Surveillance of Listeria monocytogenes in Taiwan, 2014 to 2019

Yu-Huan Tsai (1) , Alexandra Moura (2, 3, 4) , Zi-Qi Gu (1) , Jui-Hsien Chang (5) , Ying-Shu Liao (5) , Ru-Hsiou Teng (5) , Kuo-Yao Tseng (1) , Dai-Ling Chang (1) , Wei-Ren Liu (1) , Yu-Tsung Huang (6) , Alexandre Leclercq (2, 3, 4) , Hsiu-Jung Lo (7, 8, 1) , Marc Lecuit (2, 3, 4, 9, 10) , Chien-Shun Chiou (5)

1 NYCU - National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University [Taipei]
2 Biologie des Infections - Biology of Infection
3 CNR - Centre National de Référence Listeria - National Reference Center Listeria
4 CC-OMS / WHO-CC - Centre collaborateur de l'OMS Listeria / WHO Collaborating Centre Listeria
5 Taiwan Centers for Disease Control
6 NTU - National Taiwan University [Taiwan]
7 NHRI - National Health Research Institutes [Taiwan]
8 China Medical University
9 Imagine - U1163 - Imagine - Institut des maladies génétiques (IHU)
10 Hôpital Necker - Enfants Malades [AP-HP]

Listeria monocytogenes is a life-threatening foodborne pathogen. Here, we report the genomic characterization of a nationwide dataset of 411 clinical and 82 food isolates collected in Taiwan between 2014 and 2019. The observed incidence of listeriosis increased from 0.83 to 7 cases per million population upon implementation of mandatory notification in 2018. Pregnancy-associated cases accounted for 2.8% of human listeriosis and all-cause 7-day mortality was of 11.9% in nonmaternal-neonatal listeriosis. L. monocytogenes was isolated from 90% of raw pork and 34% of chicken products collected in supermarkets. Sublineages SL87, SL5, and SL378 accounted for the majority (65%) of clinical cases. SL87 and SL378 were also predominant (57%) in food products. Five cgMLST clusters accounted for 57% clinical cases, suggesting unnoticed outbreaks spanning up to 6 years. Mandatory notification allowed identifying the magnitude of listeriosis in Taiwan. Continuous real-time genomic surveillance will allow reducing contaminating sources and disease burden.

Mots clés: core genome multilocus sequence typing; Listeria monocytogenes; listeriosis; whole-genome sequencing

Domaines: Sciences du Vivant [q-bio]; Médecine humaine et pathologie; Maladies infectieuses; Microbiologie et Parasitologie; Bactériologie

Yu-Huan Tsai, Alexandra Moura, Zi-Qi Gu, Jui-Hsien Chang, Ying-Shu Liao, et al.. Genomic Surveillance of Listeria monocytogenes in Taiwan, 2014 to 2019. Microbiology Spectrum, 2022, 10 (6), ⟨10.1128/spectrum.01825-22⟩. ⟨pasteur-03922803v2⟩