Sentinel Listeriosis Surveillance in Selected Hospitals, China, 2013-2017.

During 2013-2017, a total of 211 cases of listeriosis were reported by 64 sentinel hospitals in China to a national foodborne disease surveillance network. The average case-fatality rate was 31.2% for perinatal cases and 16.4% for nonperinatal cases. Sequence types 87 and 8 were the most prevalent types.

Microbe Profile: Listeria monocytogenes: a paradigm among intracellular bacterial pathogens.

Listeria monocytogenes is a food-borne bacterial pathogen that is responsible for listeriosis, a disease characterized by occasional febrile gastroenteritis in immunocompetent individuals, abortions in pregnant women, meningitis in the newborn and fatal bacteraemia in immunocompromised individuals or the elderly. The ability of L. monocytogenes to produce disease is intimately associated with its potential to traverse several human barriers (including the intestinal, placental and blood/brain barriers), to promote its internalization within diverse populations of epithelial cells and to proliferate in the intra-ic environment while escaping host immune responses. L. monocytogenes is often regarded as a paradigm for intracellular parasitism.

Listeriosis Outbreaks Associated with Soft Cheeses, United States, 1998-20141.

Since 2006, the number of reported US listeriosis outbreaks associated with cheese made under unsanitary conditions has increased. Two-thirds were linked to Latin-style soft cheese, often affecting pregnant Hispanic women and their newborns. Adherence to pasteurization protocols and sanitation measures to avoid contamination after pasteurization can reduce future outbreaks.

Infectious Dose of Listeria monocytogenes in Outbreak Linked to Ice Cream, United States, 2015.

The relationship between the number of ingested Listeria monocytogenes cells in food and the likelihood of developing listeriosis is not well understood. Data from an outbreak of listeriosis linked to milkshakes made from ice cream produced in 1 factory showed that contaminated products were distributed widely to the public without any reported cases, except for 4 cases of severe illness in persons who were highly susceptible. The ingestion of high doses of L. monocytogenes by these patients infected through milkshakes was unlikely if possible additional contamination associated with the preparation of the milkshake is ruled out. This outbreak illustrated that the vast majority of the population did not become ill after ingesting a low level of L. monocytogenes but raises the question of listeriosis cases in highly susceptible persons after distribution of low-level contaminated products that did not support the growth of this pathogen.

Summary of 11 years of enteric outbreak investigations and criteria to initiate an investigation, Province of Quebec, 2002 through 2012.

This article presents a retrospective analysis of enteric disease outbreak investigations led by or conducted in collaboration with provincial health authorities in the Province of Quebec from 2002 through 2012. Objectives were to characterize enteric disease outbreaks, quantify and describe those for which a source was identified (including the control measures implemented), identify factors that contributed to or impeded identification of the source, and recommend areas for improvement in outbreak investigations (including establishment of criteria to initiate investigations). A descriptive analysis of enteric disease outbreak summaries recorded in a provincial database since 2002 was conducted, and corresponding outbreak reports were reviewed. Among 61 enteric disease outbreaks investigated, primary pathogens involved were Salmonella (46%), Escherichia coli O157:H7 (25%), and Listeria monocytogenes (13%). Sources were identified for 37 (61%) of 61 of the outbreaks, and descriptive studies were sufficient to identify the source for 26 (70%) of these. During the descriptive phase of the investigation, the causes of 21 (81%) of 26 outbreaks were identified by promptly collecting samples of suspected foods based on case interviews. Causes of outbreaks were more likely to be detected by weekly surveillance or alert systems (odds ratio = 6.0, P = 0.04) than by serotyping or molecular typing surveillance and were more likely to be associated with a common event or location (odds ratio = 11.0, P = 0.023). Among the 37 outbreaks for which causes were identified, 24 (65%) were associated with contaminated food, and recalls were the primary control measure implemented (54%). Review of enteric outbreaks investigated at the provincial level in Québec has increased the province's ability to quantify success and identify factors that can promote success. Multiple criteria should be taken into account to identify case clusters that are more likely to be resolved.

Antimicrobial resistance of Listeria monocytogenes strains isolated from humans in France.

Susceptibility to antibiotics of 4,816 clinical L. monocytogenes strains isolated since 1926 was studied, and the temporal evolution of susceptibility to antibiotics was analyzed through several decades. The mechanisms of resistance in each resistant strain were studied. The prevalence of resistant strains was estimated at 1.27% among isolates from humans. Resistance to tetracyclines+ and fluoroquinolones was more common and has recently emerged. Although acquired resistance in clinical L. monocytogenes did not implicate clinically relevant antibiotics, the possibility of resistance gene transfers, the description of the first clinical isolate with high-level resistance to trimethoprim, and the recent increase in penicillin MICs up to 2 microg/ml reinforce the need for microbiological surveillance.

[Historical note: in homage to Lister]. / Nota Histórica: En memoria de Lister.

Joseph Lister, who disputes with Klebs the third place as the Father of Microbiology, was just about to remain without a bacteria immortalizing his ñame. Thanks to Seeliger, now Listeria is used for identifying the genus that Pirie had already named Listerella in 1927. Through a quick review of the history of Listeria monocytogenes, we get to know the principal facts in the lives of Pirie and Seeliger, investigators with absolutely different characters. We also review a brief history of the life of the great researcher Lister, whose profound human qualities are described.

En memoria de Lister / In homage to Lister

Joseph Lister, who disputes with Klebs the third place as the Father of Microbiology, was just about to remain without a bacteria immortalizing his ñame. Thanks to Seeliger, now Listeria is used for identifying the genus that Pirie had already named Listerella in 1927. Through a quick review of the history of Listeria monocytogenes, we get to know the principal facts in the lives of Pirie and Seeliger, investigators with absolutely different characters. We also review a brief history of the life of the great researcher Lister, whose profound human qualities are described.

Joseph Lister, quien disputa con Klebs el tercer lugar como Padre de la Microbiología, estuvo a punto de quedarse sin una bacteria que inmortalizara su nombre. Gracias a Seeliger hoy se denomina histeria al género que ya Pirie había propuesto como histerella en 1927. En una rápida revisión de la historia de histeria monocytogenes conocemos los hechos fundamentales en las vidas de Pirie y Seeliger, investigadores de caracteres encontrados, teniendo como fondo la inmensa figura de Lister, del cual se presentan, más que sus hallazgos y realizaciones científicas, sus condiciones humanas: su ética inquebrantable, su desinterés por los honores, su profunda religiosidad, su amor por su esposa Agnes y sus dificultades para exponer sus ideas con fluidez.

Listeriology (1926-2007): the rise of a model pathogen.

Listeria monocytogenes is an ubiquitous gram positive bacterium responsible for a severe food borne disease in human and animals which has become a multifaceted model. Indeed, it is a facultative intracellular bacterium that induces an amazingly rapid and sterilizing T-cell response and has been--and still is--widely used by immunologists. Listeria's strategies to invade non-phagocytic cells and spread from cell to cell have been and still are outstandingly instrumental to address key questions in cell biology. Orally acquired listeriosis can now be studied in relevant animal models. Finally, Listeria is among the few bacteria which have so rapidly benefited from comparative genomics. It now ranks among the most documented pathogens.

History and epidemiology of listeriosis.

Listeriae are used as a tool by different specialities in biomedical research. There are now at least four major fields of interest in Listeria: (1). the role in medical microbiology: Listeria monocytogenes causes severe diseases of men and animals and is difficult to treat; (2). the role in food microbiology: Listeria is a food-borne pathogen and is found in various food items; (3). the role in cell biology: L. monocytogenes is a facultative intracellular parasite having an intense cross-talk and interactions with the host cell; (4). the role in immunology: basic knowledge on cell-mediated immunity has been acquired through the model of listeriosis. This paper presents information on the past and the actual situation in research on Listeria and listeriosis.

[A historical birth tragedy. Neonatal infections still of interest today as they were 300 years ago]. / En historisk fødselstragedie. Neonatale infeksjoner like aktuelle i dag som for 300 år siden.

Neonatal bacterial infections are still important causes of perinatal mortality and morbidity, as they were 300 years ago. Queen Anne (1655-1714) underwent 18 pregnancies without producing any successors, probably because the children died of perinatal infection. Some women are unable to produce a specific IgG-antibody against Group B streptococcus (GBS). They may have normal IgM production and are thereby self-protected, while their infants risk developing neonatal GBS septicaemia. Listeria monocytogenes may cause repeated miscarriages, stillbirths and neonatal infections and, even today, is an important cause of perinatal deaths. The miscarriages and neonatal deaths of Queen Anne are believed to have been caused by an asymptomatic listeria monocytogenes infection. The importance of recognizing women at risk for these types of infections is discussed.

Listeriosis--history and actual developments.

Although apparently observed before, the history of listeriosis dates back approximately 60 years. First known as a cause of epidemics and sporadic cases in some 50 species of animals, the disease appears now with increased frequency among human populations at risk. The causative agent Listeria monocytogenes is primarily a psychrophilic soil-borne bacterium with a wide pathogenic potential thus provoking primarily septicemia, meningitis and intrauterine infections. Recent observations indicate certain types of food being the principle vehicle for transmission of human listeriosis. This would parallel the epizootic situation in domestic animals. Further studies of the mechanisms leading to clinical and subclinical infections are just as necessary as reliable methods to determine the immunity status of individuals at risk.

Listeriosis.

Four patients with Listeria monocytogenes infection are presented; three of whom had associated lymphoproliferative disorders. Two of the four patients had Listeria meningitis. Meningitis is the most common manifestation of listeriosis in humans. Specific diagnosis depends on demonstrating Listeria monocytogenes in the cerebral spinal fluid; differentiation from other forms of acute meningitis cannot be made clinically. Although listeriosis is recognized as a major global problem in both human and animal health, the epidemiology of human infection is poorly understood. Animals and animal products may serve as reservoirs for human infection. Antibiotic therapy resulted in recovery in three of the patients. The history, epidemiology, laboratory diagnosis, clinical manifestations, and therapy of listeriosis are reviewed.