Listeria monocytogenes

Listeria monocytogenes
Phylum	Firmicutes
Class	Bacilli
Order	Bacillales
Family	Listeriaceae
Genus	Listeria
Species	L.monocytogenes

Introduction

Listeria monocytogenes (MarcoTolo 2006, Wikimedia commons)

Listeria monocytogenes is one of the six species belonging to the genus Listeria. It is gram positive bacteria.

Outbreaks of listeriosis in the human population are caused by L. monocytogenes. The outbreaks are seasonal and linked to silage feeding. In most cases, the symptoms are those of a mild gastroenteritis or gripe. However, people who belong to the high - risk groups (elderly, infants, pregnant women or people with immunosuppression) might develop more serious symptoms (invasive disease) caused by meningoencephalitis, septicemia, miscarriage and mortality rate of approximately 30%.

Listeria monocytogenes replicates in poor quality silage, where the pH exceeds 5.5.

Animals are highly susceptible during pregnancy due to lowered cell-mediated immunity.

Listeria monocytogenes Learning Resources
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