POLYMERASE CHAIN REACTIONS (PCR) TECHNIQUE FOR MOLECULAR IDENTIFICATION OF HIGH-RISK LISTERIA MONOCYTOGENES INFECTIONS IN PREGNANT WOMEN

Abstract

Listeria monocytogenes is a facultative, non-spore forming, rod-shaped intracellular pathogen. L. monocytogenes is varying from 0.5 µm to2.0 µm in length and 0.4 µm to 0.5 µm in diameter. Stillbirths, diarrhea, fever, and headache are the most common symptoms of infections with L. monocytogenes. This pathogen is threatening pregnant women, new-borns, elderly and individuals with weak immune system more than others. Infections with this microorganism cause a high mortality rate and significant economic loos. Early identification of this pathogen could minimize or even prevent the infections. Polymerase chain reactions technique could identify and diagnose the high-risk L. monocytogenes infection. Therefore, in the current research, A Polymerase Chain Reactions technique for molecular identification of L. monocytogenes infections from fifteen swab samples collected from pregnant woman were performed. The results of our study identified L. monocytogenes in 10 swab samples. Each sample gave clear band with amplicon size of 320 bp. We determined that Polymerase chain reactions technique should be used more frequently in any suspected cases of L. monocytogenes infections especially in pregnant woman.