Diverse Cadmium Resistance Determinants in Listeria monocytogenes Isolates from the Turkey Processing Plant Environment

Two different cadA cadmium resistance determinants (cadA1, first identified in Tn5422, and cadA2, associated with pLM80) were detected among cadmium-resistant Listeria monocytogenes strains from turkey processing plants. Prevalence of cadA1 versus cadA2 was serotype associated. Cadmium-resistant isolates that were also resistant to benzalkonium chloride (BC) were more likely to harbor cadA2 alone or together with cadA1 than isolates that were cadmium resistant but BC susceptible.