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Oral Transmission of Listeria monocytogenes in Mice via Ingestion of Contaminated Food
Published on: May 6, 2013
The Saprophytic Lifestyle of Listeria monocytogenes and Entry Into the Food-Processing Environment
Antonio Lourenco1,2, Kristina Linke2, Martin Wagner2,3
1Department of Food Biosciences, Teagasc Food Research Centre, Co. Cork, Ireland.
Abstract:
Listeria monocytogenes is an environmentally adapted saprophyte that can change into a human and animal bacterial pathogen with zoonotic potential through several regulatory systems. In this review, the focus is on the occurrence of Listeria sensu stricto and sensu lato in different ecological niches, the detection methods, and their analytical limitations. It also highlights the occurrence of L. monocytogenes genotypes in the environment (soil, water, and wildlife), reflects on the molecular determinants of L. monocytogenes for the saprophytic lifestyle and the potential for antibiotic resistance. In particular, the strain-specific properties with which some genotypes circulate in wastewater, surface water, soil, wildlife, and agricultural environments are of particular interest for the continuously updating risk analysis.
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