Listeria ilorinensis sp. nov., isolated from cow milk cheese in Nigeria

Abstract

During microbial assessment of cow milk cheese products in the city of Ilorin, Nigeria, a <i>Listeria</i>-like isolate was detected that could not be assigned to any known species. Whole-genome sequence analyses against all currently known 26 <i>Listeria</i> species confirmed that this isolate constitutes a new taxon within the genus <i>Listeria</i>, with highest similarity to <i>Listeria costaricensis</i> (average nucleotide identity blast of 82.66%, <i>in silico</i> DNA-DNA hybridization of 28.3%). Phenotypically, it differs from <i>L. costaricensis</i> by the inability to ferment sucrose, l-fucose and starch. The absence of haemolysis and <i>Listeria</i> pathogenic islands suggest that this novel species is not pathogenic for humans and animals. The name <i>Listeria ilorinensis</i> sp. nov. is proposed, with the type strain CLIP 2019/01311^T (=CIP 111875^T=DSM 111566^T).