Oxygen Deprivation Influences the Survival of Listeria monocytogenes in Gerbils

Authors

Jillian Harris, Missisippi State University
Oindrila Paul, University of Southern MississippiFollow
Si Hong Park, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville
Sally White, University of Southern Mississippi
Khemraj Budachetri, University of Southern MississippiFollow
Daniel M. McClung, Mississippi State University
Jessica G. Wilson, University of Central FloridaFollow
Alicia K. Olivier, Mississippi State UniversityFollow
Justin A. Thornton, Mississippi State UniversityFollow
Paul R. Broadway, Livestock Issues Research Unit, USDAFollow
Steven C. Ricke, University of ArkansasFollow
Janet R. Donaldson, University of Southern MississippiFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

10-3-2018

Department

Biological Sciences

School

Biological, Environmental, and Earth Sciences

Abstract

Listeria monocytogenes is a facultative anaerobic foodborne pathogen capable of surviving harsh environments. Recent work has indicated that anaerobic conditions increase the resistance capability of certain strains to environmental stressors. The goal of the study was to conduct a preliminary study to determine whether exposure to anaerobic conditions prior to infection increases the ability to survive in vivo. Gerbils were inoculated with one of five doses of the L. monocytogenes strain F2365 by oral gavage: phosphate-buffered saline (control), 5 × 10⁶ colony forming units aerobic culture (low aerobic), 5 × 10⁸ aerobic culture (high aerobic), 5 × 10⁶ anaerobic culture (low anaerobic), or 5 × 10⁸ anaerobic culture (high anaerobic) dose of F2365. Gerbils inoculated with a high aerobic or anaerobic dose exhibited significant weight loss. Gerbils administered either the low or high anaerobic dose had at least 3 log₁₀ of L. monocytogenes present in fecal samples, which contrasted with gerbils that received the low aerobic dose. Animals that received the high anaerobic dose had a significant increase in bacterial loads within the liver. Histologic examination of the L. monocytogenes positive livers exhibited locally extensive areas of hepatocellular necrosis, though the extent of this damage differed between treatment groups. Microbial community analysis of the cecum from gerbils infected with L. monocytogenes indicated that the abundance of Bacteroidales and Clostridiales increased and there was a decrease in the abundance of Spirochaetales. This study suggests that anaerobic conditions alter the localization pattern of L. monocytogenes within the gastrointestinal tract. These findings could relate to how different populations are more susceptible to listeriosis, as oxygen availability may differ within the gastrointestinal tract.

Publication Title

Translational Animal Science

Volume

3

Issue

1

First Page

102

Last Page

112

Recommended Citation

Harris, J., Paul, O., Park, S., White, S., Budachetri, K., McClung, D. M., Wilson, J. G., Olivier, A. K., Thornton, J. A., Broadway, P. R., Ricke, S. C., Donaldson, J. R. (2018). Oxygen Deprivation Influences the Survival of Listeria monocytogenes in Gerbils. Translational Animal Science, 3(1), 102-112.
Available at: https://aquila.usm.edu/fac_pubs/15700