Rabbit Meat as a Possible Source for Multidrug Resistant Listeria monocytogenes

Rabbit meat is a rich source of protein with low fat and cholesterol contents making it a healthy meat source.Listeria monocytogenes is one of foodborne pathogens that can cause a serious disease named listeriosis inhumans. This study firstly investigated the prevalence of Listeria spp., particularly Listeria monocytogenes in rabbitmeat and offal. Secondly, the expression of virulence associated genes and the antibiogram of the identified Listeriamonocytogenes were further examined. The achieved results revealed that Listeria spp. was isolated from rabbitthigh muscles, shoulder muscles, loin, liver and kidneys at 25%, 15%, 10%, 15% and 5%, respectively. Five Listeriaspp. namely, L. monocytogenes, L. ivanovii, L. innocua, L. welshimeri and L. seeligeri were serologically identified.Multidrug pathogenic L. monocytogenes was particularly isolated from thigh muscles and loin only at 12.5% and7.5%, respectively. L. monocytogenes isolates showed a complete resistance (100%) to both of kanamycin andneomycin