Utilizing whole genome sequencing to characterize Listeria spp. persistence and transmission patterns in a farmstead dairy processing facility and its associated farm environment

Farmstead dairy processing facilities may be particularly susceptible to Listeria spp. contamination due to the close physical proximity of their processing environments (PE) to associated dairy farm environments (FE). In this case study, we supported the implementation of interventions focused on improving (1) cleaning and sanitation efficacy, (2) hygienic zoning, and (3) sanitary equipment and facility design and maintenance in a farmstead dairy processing facility, and evaluated their effect on Listeria spp. detection in the farmstead's PE over 1 yr. Detection of Listeria spp. in the farmstead's PE was numerically reduced from 50% to 7.5% after 1 yr of intervention implementation, suggesting that these interventions were effective at improving Listeria spp. control. In addition, environmental samples were also collected from the farmstead's FE to evaluate the risk of the FE as a potential source of Listeria spp. in the PE. Overall, detection of Listeria spp. was higher in samples collected from the FE (75%, 27/36) compared with samples collected from the PE (24%, 29/120). Whole-genome sequencing performed on select isolates collected from the PE and FE supported the identification of 6 clusters (range of 3 to 15 isolates per cluster) that showed ≤ 50 high-quality single nucleotide polymorphism differences. Of these 6 clusters, 3 (i.e., clusters 2, 4, and 5) contained isolates that were collected from both the PE and FE, suggesting that transmission between these 2 environments was likely. Moreover, all cluster 2 isolates represented a clonal complex of L. monocytogenes commonly associated with dairy farm environmental reservoirs (i.e., CC666), which may support that the farmstead's FE represented an upstream source of the cluster 2 isolates that were found in the PE. Overall, our data underscore that although the FE can represent a potential upstream source of Listeria spp. contamination in a farmstead dairy processing facility, implementation of targeted interventions can help effectively minimize Listeria spp. contamination in the PE.