Listeriosis is a dangerous infection caused by eating food contaminated with bacteria called Listeria monocytogenes(L. monocytogenes).
Causes, incidence, and risk factorsAccording to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, listeriosis is an important public health problem in the United States.
The bacteria (L. monocytogenes) that cause this disease are common in wild animals, domesticated animals, and in soil and water. The bacteria make many animals sick and commonly lead to miscarriage and stillbirth in domestic animals.
Vegetables, meats, and other foods you eat can get infected with the bacteria if they come in contact with contaminated soil or manure. Raw milk or products made from raw milk may carry these bacteria.
If you eat the contaminated products, you may get sick. Pregnant women, developing fetuses, newborns, and adults with weakened immune systems are at increased risk. The bacteria most often cause a gastrointestinal illness. In some cases, you can develop a blood infection (septicemia) or inflammation of the covering of the brain (meningitis).
Infection in early pregnancy generally leads to miscarriage. The bacteria may cross the placenta and infect the developing baby. Infections in late pregnancy may lead to stillbirth or death of the infant within a few hours of birth. About half of infants infected at or near term will die.
SymptomsIn infants, symptoms of listeriosis may be seen in the first few days of life and may include:
Late-appearing infection in the infant (symptoms appear age 5 days or older) and infection in children is often seen as meningitis.
In adults, the disease may take many forms depending on what organ or organ systems are infected. It may occur as meningitis, pneumonia, septicemia, and endocarditis, or in milder form as abscesses, skin lesion, and conjunctivitis.
If a pregnant woman becomes infected, it can lead to:
Laboratory tests may be done to detect the bacteria in amniotic fluid, blood, feces, and urine. A CSF culture may be performed.
Note: There is no way, without testing, to know if meningitis is due to listeria or another cause.
TreatmentAntibiotics are prescribed to kill the bacteria that are causing the infection.
Expectations (prognosis)Listeriosis in a fetus or infant results in a poor outcome with a high Death Rate. Healthy older children and adults have a lower death rate.
ComplicationsInfants who survive listeriosis may have long-term neurological damage and delayed development.
Calling your health care providerCall your health care provider if you or your child develop symptoms of Listeriosis.
PreventionPregnant women should avoid contact with wild and domestic animals. Listeria is well controlled in American food products, but food-associated outbreaks have occurred.
Pregnant women should avoid consumption of soft cheeses, deli meats, and cold salads from salad bars. Foreign food products such as nonpasteurized soft cheeses have also been implicated in outbreaks of listeriosis. Food should always be adequately cooked.
ReferencesLorber B. Listeriosis. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier. 2007: chap 316.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Preliminary FoodNet Data on the Incidence of Infection with Pathogens Transmitted Commonly Through Food -- 10 States. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2009;58(13);333-337.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Diagnosis and management of foodborne illnesses: a primer for physicians and other health care professionals. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2004;53(RR-4);1-33.
Listeriosis is an infection that can occur when a person eats food that has been contaminated with bacteria called Listeria monocytogenes (L. monocytogenes).
Causes, incidence, and risk factorsThe bacteriumListeria monocytogenes is found in wild animals, domesticated animals, and in soil and water. These bacteria make many animals sick, leading to miscarriage and stillbirth in domestic animals.
Vegetables, meats, and other foods you eat can get infected with the bacteria if they come in contact with contaminated soil or manure. Raw milk or products made from raw milk may carry these bacteria.
If you eat the contaminated products, you may get sick. The following people are at increased risk:
The bacteria most often cause a gastrointestinal illness. In some cases, you can develop a blood infection (septicemia) or inflammation of the covering of the brain (meningitis). Infants who are 5 days or older and children often have meningitis.
Infection in early pregnancy may cause a miscarriage. The bacteria may cross the placenta and infect the developing baby. Infections in late pregnancy may lead to stillbirth or death of the infant within a few hours of birth. About half of infants infected at or near term will die.
In adults, the disease may take many forms, depending on what organ or organ systems are infected. It may occur as:
Or it may occur in a milder form as:
SymptomsIn infants, symptoms of listeriosis may be seen in the first few days of life and may include:
Laboratory tests may be done to detect the bacteria in amniotic fluid, blood, feces, and urine. A CSF culture may be performed.
TreatmentAntibiotics (including ampicillin or trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole) are prescribed to kill the bacteria that are causing the infection.
Expectations (prognosis)Listeriosis in a fetus or infant results in a poor outcome with a high death rate. Healthy older children and adults have a lower death rate.
ComplicationsInfants who survive listeriosis may have long-term brain and nervous system (neurological) damage and delayed development.
Calling your health care providerCall your health care provider if you or your child develop symptoms of Listeriosis.
PreventionPregnant women should avoid contact with wild and domestic animals. Listeria is well controlled in American food products, but food-associated outbreaks have occurred.
Pregnant women should avoid eating soft cheeses, deli meats, and cold salads from salad bars. Foreign food products such as nonpasteurized soft cheeses have also led to outbreaks of listeriosis. Always cook food thoroughly.
ReferencesBaltimore RS. Listeria monocytogenes. In: Kliegman RM, Behrman RE, Jenson HB, Stanton BF, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 19th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2011:chap 181.
Bennett L. Listeria monocytogenes. In: Mandell GL, Bennett JE, Dolin R, eds. Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. 7th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Elsevier Churchill Livingstone; 2009:chap 207.
Reviewed ByReview Date: 08/24/2011
Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Medical Director, MEDEX Northwest Division of Physician Assistant Studies, University of Washington School of Medicine; Jatin M. Vyas, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor in Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Assistant in Medicine, Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
Raccoons can contract rabies, distemper, leptospirosis, listeriosis, tetanus, and tularemia. They are also subject to internal parasites, some of which can be transmitted to humans with serious consequences.
Yes, this is called quidding and can be caused by a number of things - damage to the cranial nerves by listeriosis, a brain abscess or CAE. Loss of teeth due to age or excessive wear on teeth by grazing sandy soils can lead to quidding also a drench gun injury may lead to an abscess which stops the goat from swallowing normally.
Is the white layer covering the eyes the animals third eye lid protruding? Its is possibly tetanus..but there could also be other diseases that I am unaware of that can cause these symptoms. This disease could also be listeriosis.
No, not really. A cow should be having her calf to full term, not calving 5 weeks prior to the expected due date. You should get her tested for diseases like BVDV (Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus), H. somnus, Leptospirosis, Listeriosis, Neosporosis, Salmonellosis, Chlamydia, Sarcocytosis or TB (Tuberculosis). Get your cow tested by a licensed veterinarian, and if she comes up positive in any of these tests, cull her immediately and any other cows that may be affected.
I have a female albino guinea pig. She is 6 years old and getting very old. Recently i noticed she was not acting normal. I realised that unless i showed her the food she would not eat it and when you wave your hand in front of the guinea pig it will not run away and blink.Unless your guinea pig is very old (4,5 or 6) there is no need to worry as it is just with age but if he/she is younger I suggest that you take him/her to the vets as soon as possible.Answer 2You can tell if your guinea pig is blind because its eyes will start to go opaque and turn a milky-white colour.
The overall death rate for listeriosis is 26%.
Maternal and congenital listeriosis and syphilis are treated with antibiotics.
A maternal blood test is used to diagnose listeriosis.
In 1989, there were 1,965 cases of listeriosis with 481 deaths.
In 1989, there were 1,965 cases of listeriosis with 481 deaths.
Listeriosis is treated with the antibiotics ampicillin (Omnipen) or sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim (Bactrim, Septra).
During pregnancy, listeriosis often causes miscarriage or stillbirth.
Commonly, symptoms of late-onset listeriosis appear about two weeks after birth.
The only way to diagnose listeriosis is to isolate Listeria monocytogenes from blood, cerebrospinal fluid, or stool.
Listeriosis may be diagnosed and treated by infectious disease specialists and internal medicine specialists.
Heinz Paul Richard Seeliger has written: 'Listeriosis' -- subject(s): Listeriosis
Listeriosis may cause flu-like symptoms and the infection can be transmitted prenatally even if the mother has no symptoms.