Isolation and Molecular Characterization of Listeria monocytogenes isolated from Chicken Samples in Erzurum, Turkey

In order to provide food safety and to control the food contamination during the process of food supplementation, a sound identification of food bacterial pathogens is essential. Two hundred and fifty chicken samples were obtained from the butchers and retail shops in the vicinity of Erzurum. In this study, a phenotypic and genotypic characterization of Listeria monocytogenes isolates isolated from the chicken samples was presented. As the result of the isolation study, the existence of 19 L. monocytogenes was determined which were then supported by the VITEK and specific-PCR analysis data.