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Oral Transmission of Listeria monocytogenes in Mice via Ingestion of Contaminated Food
Published on: May 6, 2013
Human Listeriosis
Merel M Koopmans1, Matthijs C Brouwer1, José A Vázquez-Boland2
1Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Department of Neurology, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Insights
Listeria monocytogenes, a foodborne pathogen, causes severe invasive infections like meningitis and sepsis. Understanding its epidemiology and pathogenesis is crucial for preventing and treating listeriosis, a life-threatening illness.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Food Safety
Background:
- Listeria monocytogenes is a Gram-positive bacterium responsible for listeriosis, a severe foodborne illness.
- Listeriosis can lead to invasive infections including bacteremia, meningitis, and pregnancy-associated complications.
- It is a significant cause of hospitalization in Western countries.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide a comprehensive overview of human listeriosis.
- To detail the characteristics of Listeria monocytogenes.
- To cover epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical aspects, and prevention strategies.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on Listeria monocytogenes and listeriosis.
- Analysis of data from international surveillance systems.
- Integration of findings from whole genome studies and pathophysiological investigations.
Main Results:
- Listeria monocytogenes is a versatile pathogen with diverse evolutionary paths.
- Invasive listeriosis presents with varied clinical manifestations depending on the affected population.
- Surveillance and genetic data aid in identifying contamination sources.
Conclusions:
- Effective prevention and treatment of listeriosis require a thorough understanding of the pathogen and disease.
- Continued research into Listeria monocytogenes' evolution and pathogenicity is essential.
- Public health strategies must address food safety and risk group protection.
Abstract:
Listeria monocytogenes is a Gram-positive facultative intracellular pathogen that can cause severe invasive infections upon ingestion with contaminated food. Clinically, listerial disease, or listeriosis, most often presents as bacteremia, meningitis or meningoencephalitis, and pregnancy-associated infections manifesting as miscarriage or neonatal sepsis. Invasive listeriosis is life-threatening and a main cause of foodborne illness leading to hospital admissions in Western countries. Sources of contamination can be identified through international surveillance systems for foodborne bacteria and strains' genetic data sharing. Large-scale whole genome studies have increased our knowledge on the diversity and evolution of L. monocytogenes, while recent pathophysiological investigations have improved our mechanistic understanding of listeriosis. In this article, we present an overview of human listeriosis with particular focus on relevant features of the causative bacterium, epidemiology, risk groups, pathogenesis, clinical manifestations, and treatment and prevention.
