WANG Ji-xiao, WANG Yan, LI Lie-fei, WANG Rui, Bei Wen-wen, Liu Chun-hua, MA Yong-zhong, Yu Xiao-jie, Li Wei-wei . Hainan Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Hainan Academy of Preventive Medicine), Haikou, Hainan , China, . National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing , China, . China National Centre for Food Safety Risk Assessment, Beijing , China
China Tropical Medicine.
Accepted: 2026-07-23
Objective To analyze the molecular epidemiological characteristics of 46 Listeria monocytogenes strains isolated from clinical cases, associated family members, and food sources in Hainan Province during 2020–2025; to clarify their antimicrobial resistance, genomic features, and potential traceability relationships; and to provide data support for surveillance and source tracing of listeriosis in Hainan Province. Methods A total of 46 L. monocytogenes isolates collected from 2020 to 2025 were included, comprising 13 isolates from clinical patients, 4 isolates from patients’ family members, and 29 foodborne isolates. Whole-genome sequencing was performed for all isolates, and their epidemiological characteristics were systematically analyzed. Bioinformatic methods were used to predict serogroups and sequence types, screen virulence and antimicrobial resistance genes, and conduct single-nucleotide polymorphism analysis, so as to reveal the population structure and molecular epidemiological characteristics of the isolates. Results From 2020 to 2025, a total of 13 listeriosis cases were reported in Hainan Province, with a hospitalization rate of 100% and a case-fatality rate of 53.85%. Patients aged over 60 years accounted for 38.46% of the cases. The main clinical manifestation was bacteremia/septicemia (61.54%), followed by intrauterine infection (23.08%). Fever was the most common symptom (92.31%), and blood and cerebrospinal fluid were the main clinical specimens. Among all food-borne isolates, poultry meat was the most common source, followed by edible fungi and aquatic products. Among the 46 isolates, one foodborne isolate showed dual resistance to tetracycline and erythromycin, one clinical isolate showed intermediate susceptibility to ciprofloxacin, and the remaining isolates were susceptible to all tested antibiotics. Whole-genome analysis of the 46 isolates showed that 15 isolates belonged to lineage I, among which clinical isolates accounted for 53.33%, while 30 isolates belonged to lineage II, among which food-borne isolates accounted for 70.00%. A total of 19 sequence types were identified, including one novel sequence type assigned to clonal complex 7, and these isolates were classified into 15 clonal complexes. Serogroup IIa was predominant, accounting for 54.35% of the isolates. All isolates carried LIPI-1; 6 isolates carried LIPI-3, 6 carried LIPI-4, 27 carried SSI-1, and 5 carried SSI-2. Two ST87 isolates carried the antimicrobial resistance genes msrD, mefA, and tetM. ST8 and ST87 were the predominant sequence types, both of which were detected in food-borne and clinical isolates. Isolates from Haikou City covered most of the identified sequence types. SNP analysis showed no SNP differences among four isolates from maternal-neonatal vertically transmitted infection cases. Only 3 SNPs differed between one ST8 clinical isolate and one ST8 foodborne isolate, and only 1 SNP differed between one ST87 clinical isolate and one ST87 foodborne isolate from the same year, indicating high genetic relatedness; however, direct epidemiological contact evidence was lacking in all instances. Conclusion Although the number of reported listeriosis cases in Hainan Province was limited, the case-fatality rate was high, and the proportion of patients aged over 60 years was notable. Poultry meat was the food category with the highest contamination rate. ST8 and ST87 were the predominant sequence types in food-borne and clinical isolates, respectively. It is suggested that relevant regulatory authorities should strengthen the whole chain monitoring of high-contamination foods such as poultry meat, and health authorities should strengthen the traceability of ST8, ST87 and other key types. This study elucidates the epidemiological and genomic characteristics of L. monocytogenes in Hainan Province, provides baseline data for establishing and improving surveillance systems for food contamination and listeriosis, and offers important reference value for the precise prevention and control of listeriosis.