Listeriosis

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Listeriosis is a rare but potentially serious food-borne infection caused by Listeria monocytogenes, a motile gram-positive bacillus. Listeria can be found throughout the environment in soil, vegetation, water supplies, and animals. The bacterium is particularly suited for food-borne disease because it can survive in acidic and salty conditions. Unlike most pathogens, Listeria can continue to multiply at low temperatures, allowing for growth even in properly refrigerated foods.

After ingestion, the bacillus enters the body through the gastrointestinal tract and disseminates hematogenously. In pregnant women, it can cross the placenta and infect the neonate. Macrophages and other cells endocytose the bacteria, which subsequently multiply and spread directly to other macrophages. The …