Prevalence and Multidrug Resistance Indices of Listeria spp.  from Bovine Milk, Milk Products and Clinical Samples in and  around Junagadh City, Gujarat, India

Authors

  • Alpesh P Suthar Department of Veterinary Public Health and Epidemiology, College of Veterinary Science & A.H., Kamdhenu University, Junagadh-362001, Gujarat, India
  • Samiulla H Sindhi Department of Veterinary Public Health and Epidemiology, College of Veterinary Science & A.H., Kamdhenu University, Junagadh-362001, Gujarat, India
  • Jaysukh B Kathiriya Department of Veterinary Public Health and Epidemiology, College of Veterinary Science & A.H., Kamdhenu University, Junagadh-362001, Gujarat, India
  • Kirit R Bhedi Department of Veterinary Public Health and Epidemiology, College of Veterinary Science & A.H., Kamdhenu University, Junagadh-362001, Gujarat, India
  • Arun K Sharma Department of Veterinary Physiology and Biochemistry, College of Veterinary Science & A.H., Kamdhenu University, Junagadh-362001, Gujarat, India
  • Bhupendra J Thakre Department of Veterinary Parasitology, College of Veterinary Science & Animal & A.H., Kamdhenu University, Junagadh-362001, Gujarat, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.48165/ijvsbt.21.6.03

Keywords:

MDR strains, Multiple antibiotic resistance (MAR) index, MAR phenotypes, Bovine milk, Listeria monocytogens

Abstract

The antibiotic resistance profiles of 18 Listeria spp. (5.14%) obtained from a total of 350 (100 bovine milk, 100 milk products and 150  animal clinical) samples were evaluated using the agar disc diffusion method against 14 commonly used antibiotics in human and  veterinary medicine. All 18 Listeria isolates exhibited varying levels of resistance to the tested antibiotics. Notably, resistance observed  in all isolates (100%) against ampicillin, amoxyclav and oxacillin is particularly alarming, as ampicillin remains the primary drug of choice  for L. monocytogenes infections, suggesting the potential emergence of multi-drug resistant (MDR) strains. Additionally, 77.77% of the  isolates (14 out of 18) showed resistance to chloramphenicol and cefepime, while 55.55% (10 isolates) were resistant to gentamicin, which  further underscores the reduced efficacy of commonly used antibiotics. The isolates showing resistance to three or more antibiotics  were evaluated for the multiple antibiotic-resistant phenotypes (MARPs) and multiple antibiotic resistance (MAR) index. Thirteen L.  monocytogenes isolates exhibited 12 MARP patterns with sistance to 7-13 antibiotics (MAR index: 0.50-0.92), while five other Listeria spp.  (2 L. innocua, 0.57%; 3 L. seeligeri, 0.85%) showed 5 patterns resistant to 8-13 antibiotics with MAR index 0.35-0.71, suggesting urgent need  for stringent monitoring, judicious antibiotic use, and improved food safety measures to prevent the spread of resistant Listeria strains.

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Published

2025-11-07

Issue

Vol. 21 No. 6 (2025): The Indian Journal of Veterinary Sciences and Biotechnology (IJVSBT) (Nov-Dec) 2025

Section

Research Article

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How to Cite

P Suthar, A., H Sindhi, S., B Kathiriya, J., R Bhedi, K., K Sharma, A., & J Thakre, B. (2025). Prevalence and Multidrug Resistance Indices of Listeria spp.  from Bovine Milk, Milk Products and Clinical Samples in and  around Junagadh City, Gujarat, India. Indian Journal of Veterinary Sciences and Biotechnology, 21(6), 15-20. https://doi.org/10.48165/ijvsbt.21.6.03