Prevalence of Listeria monocytogenes in milk in Africa: a generalized logistic mixed-effects and meta-regression modelling

• Published in: Scientific reports 2023-08, Vol.13 (1), p.12646-12646, Article 12646
• Main Authors: Oluwafemi, Yinka D., Igere, Bright E., Ekundayo, Temitope C., Ijabadeniyi, Oluwatosin A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 631/326; 631/326/1762; 631/326/252/171/1495; 631/326/2522; Fermented milk products; Food contamination; Humanities and Social Sciences; Listeria; Listeria monocytogenes; Milk; multidisciplinary; Outbreaks; Pasteurization; Science; Science (multidisciplinary)
• ISSN: 2045-2322; 2045-2322
• DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-39955-0

Listeria outbreaks and food recalls is on the raise globally. Milk particularly is highly susceptible to Listeria as its production and storage adequately support Listeria growth. The extent of milk contamination with Listeria monocytogenes ( Lm ) and preventative actions to halt milk associated outbreaks in Africa are unknown. Hence, this study aimed at assessing the national and subregional prevalence of Lm in milk in Africa and identify impacting factors via generalized logistic mixed-effects (GLMEs) and meta-regression modelling. Lm -milk-specific data acquired from primary studies according to standard protocol were fitted using a GLMEs. The GLMEs was subjected to leave-one-study-out-cross-validation (LOSOCV). Factors impacting Lm prevalence in milk were assayed via a 1000-permutation-assisted meta-regression-modelling. The pooled prevalence of Lm in milk in Africa was 4.35% [2.73–6.86] with a prediction interval (PI) of 0.14–59.86% and LOSOCV value of 2.43% [1.62–3.62; PI: 0.32–16.11%]. Western Africa had the highest prevalence [20.13%, 4.13–59.59], then Southern Africa [5.85%, 0.12–75.72], Northern Africa [4.67%, 2.82–7.64], Eastern Africa [1.91%, 0.64–5.55], and there was no record from Central Africa. In term of country, Lm prevalence in milk significantly (p