Investigating the genetic diversity of Listeria monocytogenes strains at the pig slaughterhouse to understand the source of strains isolated in the pork meat processing sector

In France the prevalence of Listeria monocytogenes (Lm) in raw pork meat is estimated around 9%. Over the past two decades, pork meat and processed pork products, contaminated with Lm have been incriminated in several listeriosis outbreaks around the world. Thus, finding the origin of these contaminations is more than ever a major public health concern. This study aimed at completing the data obtained by Félix et al. (2018) at pig farming and finished food products compartments by investigating the Lm clonal complexes diversity at the pig slaughtering and pork cutting stages. This will help us to better understand the source of contamination of finished food products.