There are 6 species of ''Listeria'' bacteria. They are known as saprophytes in soil. [[Listeria monocytogenes|''L.monocytogenes'']] and [[Listeria ivanovii|''L.ivanovii'']] are pathogens carried by sheep and goats and shed in faeces and milk especially during stress. They can cause septicaemia, encephalitis, abortion and endophthalmitis in ruminants. Outbreaks of [[Listeriosis|Listeriosis]] often linked to silage feeding.
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There are 6 species of ''Listeria'' bacteria. They are known as saprophytes in soil. ''L.monocytogenes'' and ''L.ivanovii'' are pathogens carried by sheep and goats and shed in faeces and milk especially during stress. They can cause septicaemia, encephalitis, abortion and endophthalmitis in ruminants. Outbreaks of [[Listeriosis|Listeriosis]] often linked to silage feeding.