Beatrix Stessl

Dr. Beatrix Stessl is a researcher in the Department of Food Microbiology at the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna. Her work focuses on molecular epidemiology of foodborne pathogens, including phenotypical and genotypical subtyping methods, and the performance testing of rapid diagnostic techniques. Her research emphasizes understanding contamination pathways in food production environments, particularly Listeria monocytogenes and other zoonotic pathogens. She investigates microbial persistence in food processing facilities, environmental sampling strategies, and the molecular characterization of pathogens in diverse ecosystems such as dairy farms, poultry facilities, and retail food products. Her contributions bridge veterinary and human public health through studies on antimicrobial resistance, pathogen reservoirs, and One Health approaches.

• Research Themes: Molecular epidemiology, food safety, pathogen genomics, environmental contamination, rapid diagnostic methods
• Key Projects: Longitudinal studies on Listeria spp. in Kosovo's food chain, microbial diversity in ruminants, and biofilm dynamics in meat processing

Dr. Stessl collaborates on international initiatives addressing foodborne disease risks in low-resource settings and has published extensively on contamination scenarios in food production environments. She actively contributes to improving pathogen detection protocols and food safety regulations.