en Food Science Food Science پژوهشي Research <strong>Background and Objectives: </strong><em>Listeria monocytogenes </em>are known as an emerged foodborne pathogen and considered as a severe health risk. In the present study, prevalence and antibiotic resistance of <em>L. monocytogenes</em> isolated from ready-to-eat meat products in Iran were assessed.<br> <strong>Materials and Methods: </strong>A total of 200 ready-to-eat meat products, including chicken meat (wing, breast, and leg), lamb and fish, were collected, and<em> L. monocytogenes </em>was isolated according to ISO 11290&ndash;1. All of the isolates were verified using polymerase chain reaction and serotyping methods. Antibiotics susceptibility of <em>L. monocytogenes</em> isolates was assessed using the broth microdilution method.<br> <strong>Results: </strong>The presence of&nbsp;<em>L.&nbsp;monocytogenes</em>&nbsp;was verified in 13% of the samples. The presence of <em>L. monocytogenes</em> was reported in 26% of roast chicken meat, 5% of roast fish and 8.33% of cooked beef. Serology showed that Serotype 1/2a (48.13%) was the dominant serotype, followed by 4b (38.4%), 1/2c (6.99%) and 1/2b (6.48%). The result showed that 37 out of 100 <em>L. monocytogenes</em> isolates were resistant to all tested antibiotics. Furthermore, eight isolates were intermediately multi-resistant to the antibiotics. The rate of antibiotic resistance in <em>L. monocytogenes</em> was 52% in Serotype 1/2a, 39% in Serotype 4b, and 35% in Serotype 1/2c. Isolates of&nbsp;<em>L.&nbsp;monocytogenes</em>&nbsp;were mostly resistant to penicillin, ampicillin and erythromycin, but highly susceptible to tetracycline and gentamycin.<br> <strong>Conclusions: </strong>The high level of <em>L. monocytogenes </em>prevalence and its resistance to antibacterial agents in meat products may result in severe human listeriosis. Therefore, it is necessary to use efficient monitoring protocols for antibiotic administration and further safety management systems in food production units. Listeria monocytogenes, Lamb, Chicken, Antibiotic, Fish 41 46 http://nfsr.sbmu.ac.ir/browse.php?a_code=A-10-678-4&slc_lang=en&sid=1 Vaez Nemati vaez.nematy@gmail.com 10031947532846003935 10031947532846003935 Yes Department of Food Science & Technology, Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources Morteza Khomeiri khomeiri@gau.ac.ir 10031947532846003936 10031947532846003936 No Department of Food Science & Technology, Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources Alireza Sadeghi Mahoonak sadeghiaz@gau.ac.ir 10031947532846003937 10031947532846003937 No Department of Food Science & Technology, Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources Ali Moayedi amoayedi@alumni.ut.ac.ir 10031947532846003938 10031947532846003938 No Department of Food Science & Technology, Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources