Listeria in Albanian dairies

Listeria are frequently detected in food processing environments such as in dairy processing facilities. Listeria (L.) monocytogenes is a foodborne pathogen causing the disease listeriosis. The pathogen has a wide repertoire of stress resistence genes supporting the survival under hostile environmental conditions. In this study, we investigated the presence of Listeria spp. in five Albanian dairies, and explored their genetic repertoire of stress resistance and virulence genes. In addition, we determined the presence of biofilms, which are suggested to be a further factor promoting bacterial survival in unfavorable environmental conditions.