ABSTRACT
Listeria (L.) monocytogenes is widely distributed in the environment, but also has the ability to cause serious invasive disease in ruminants and humans. This review provides an overview of listeriosis in ruminants and discusses our insufficient understanding of reservoirs and possible cycling ofL. monocytogenes between animal and human hosts, food and the environment. It indicates gaps in our knowledge of the role of genetic subtypes in L. monocytogenes ecology and virulence as well as risk factors, in vivo diagnostics and pathogenesis of listeriosis in ruminants. Filling these gaps will contribute to improving the control of L. monocytogenes and enhancing disease prevention. As the prevalence of listeriosis in ruminants in Switzerland is likely to be underestimated, propositions concerning improvement options for surveillance of listeriosis in ruminants are provided.
Subject(s)
Disease Reservoirs , Environmental Microbiology , Food Microbiology , Listeriosis/veterinary , Ruminants , Zoonoses , Animals , Central Nervous System Bacterial Infections/epidemiology , Central Nervous System Bacterial Infections/therapy , Central Nervous System Bacterial Infections/transmission , Central Nervous System Bacterial Infections/veterinary , Humans , Listeria monocytogenes/classification , Listeria monocytogenes/genetics , Listeria monocytogenes/physiology , Listeriosis/epidemiology , Listeriosis/etiology , Listeriosis/therapy , Population Surveillance , Switzerland/epidemiology , Zoonoses/epidemiology , Zoonoses/transmissionABSTRACT
BACKGROUND/AIMS: Bombesin and gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP) are closely related peptides. Both have been proposed to serve as a satiety signal in animals. METHODS: To explore further the role of GRP in humans, its effects on satiety and eating behavior were investigated by infusion of GRP into healthy men at three dosages (10, 40, and 160 pmol/kg per hour) and compared with saline infusions. RESULTS: GRP produced a significant reduction in calorie intake (P < 0.05) but only a 19% (nonsignificant) reduction in food intake. Fluid ingestion was not affected by GRP. No overt side effects were produced by GRP, but subjects experienced d less hunger and early fullness in the premeal period during GRP infusion but not when receiving saline (P < 0.05-0.01). CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that intravenous infusions of GRP can decrease spontaneous food intake at concentrations that produce physiological effects, such as stimulation of acid or pancreatic secretion or gallbladder contraction. The data imply that GRP-like peptides can act as satiety signals in humans, confirming data previously reported in animals.