Listeriosis Outbreaks: Symptoms, Risk Factors and Treatment

Listeria monocytogenes is a foodborne pathogen transmitted to humans through ingested food. This bacterium is responsible for human listeriosis, an extremely serious infection with a high mortality rate. In Listeriosis Outbreaks: Symptoms, Risk Factors and Treatment, the authors study the symptoms, risk factors and treatment of human listeriosis. L. monocytogenes is more deadly than other common food-borne pathogens such as the Campylobacter species, Salmonella enteritidis and Vibrio species. The authors have focused on listeriosis and the virulence factors of this pathogen for several years, performing a clinical study in collaboration with health institutions from two regions in northern Spain, Cantabria and Gipuzkoa. Consequently, biomarkers of listeriosis have been identified that may be used to study the disease evolution and trace the susceptibility to infection of specific high-risk groups. Following this, emphasis is placed on the symptoms of listeriosis in game birds in order to provide a description of various forms of the disease. Specific subjects are discussed in depth, such as the etiology of the disease, epidemiology, economic significance, hosts, transmission, incubation period, clinical signs, lesions, diagnostic procedures, principle of disease prevention, treatment and significance in public health. This compilation also reviews literature on photodynamic treatment applied against planktonic and sessile L. monocytogenes communities which may help readers assess large-scale aspects of this novel antimicrobial treatment for limiting the microbial contamination of food and improving the safety of the food supply, minimizing the risk of foodborne infections. In closing, the listeriosis outbreaks linked to the consumption of ready-to-eat fresh fruits and vegetables are presented, along with the physical and transcriptional organization of stress-associated response mechanisms.