Abstract: Five type strains of Listeria species such as Listeria monocytogenes, L. ivanuii, L. innocua, L. welshimeri and L. grayi were detected and identified by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS). The results were compared with those detected by conventional techniques (VITEK-2) and PCR at the same time. L. monocytogenes cultured in different media with various cultivation time was evaluated. Moreover, 60 artificial food samples infected with 5 Listeria species were also tested by MALDI-TOF-MS, conventional techniques and PCR. The results indicated that MALDI-TOF-MS was a fast and reliable method for the identification of Listeria species, which also had the characteristics of excellent stability and reproducibility. The overall performance of MALDI-TOF-MS revealed significant advantages compared with conventional biochemical detection systems. Therefore, MALDI-TOF-MS is suitable for high-throughout and rapid screening at low cost during the detection and identification of foodborne pathogenic bacteria such as Listeria species.

Key words: matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS), Listeria species, detection, identification