Latest news on listeriosis

Emphasis is given essentially to the presentation of recent data in terms of our total knowledge of Listeria and human and animal listeriosis. This disease of extremely varied origin can be studied in terms of two groups of subjects: females in gestation and all other categories of individuals. There was initially only a single species of Listeria, but at least five are known today, only two of which are pathogenic. Their pathogenic power is related essentially to the presence of listerolysin O, although this is not the only factor involved. Identification of Listeria is easy and can be completed with that of its serovar and lysovar. Epidemiological studies have shown that the great majority of listeriosis are anademic. The contamination of receptive subjects is due to certain forms of food. In the absence of efficient vaccination, disease prevention must be obtained by eliminating Listeria from food.