University of Duhok

College of Agricultural Engineering

Sciences
Animal science Department

Listeria monocytogenes

Prepared by : Jiyan rasheed

Supervised by: Nareen
Contents

► Classification of Listeria monocytogenes

► Listeria monocytogenes and food safety
► Implications of and possible sources of listeriosis
► Current status of the Listeriosis outbreak in South
Africa
Scientific classification of Listeria
monocytogene
Domain: Bacteria

Kingdom: Eubacteria

Phylum: Firmicutes

Class: Bacilli

Order: Bacillales

Family: Listeriaceae

Genus: Listeria

Species: L.MONOCYTOGENs
 What is Listeria?

► The genus Listeria belongs to the class Bacilli and the

order Bacillales, which also includes Bacillus and
Staphylococcus
► The genus consists of at least 17 recognized species that
includes Listeria monocytogenes
► Listeria monocytogenes is the species of pathogenic
bacteria that causes the infection listeriosis
► It can grow and reproduce inside the host's cells and is
one of the most virulent foodborne pathogens
► Listeria monocytogenes organisms are short, gram-
positive, rod-shaped, non-spore-forming, facultative
anaerobic, non-branching, etc bacteria.
 Listeria monocytogenes and food safety
► L. monocytogenes is a foodborne pathogen causing
listeriosis in animals and humans- 20 to 30% of food
borne listeriosis infections in high-risk individuals may
be fatal

► Listeriosis is characterized by fever, muscle aches, and

nausea. If infection spreads to the nervous system,
symptoms such as headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of
balance even death.

► Vulnerable groups are pregnant women, elderly, infants

and individuals who are immunocompromised.
 Possible sources of listeriosis

► L. monocytogenes is an environmental pathogen that is found

in soil, water, sewage, and decaying vegetation.

► Listeriosis is caused by eating foods contaminated with the

Listeria monocytogenes.

► Listeriosis infections are linked to diverse foods including

fresh produce, dairy and meat products.

► The vast majority of human listeriosis cases are commonly

linked to ready to eat (RTE) food products because they are
not heat treated before eating.
 Implications of listeriosis

► Listeriosis ranks amongst the deadliest foodborne

diseases worldwide due to fatality rates of 25-30% and
hospitalization rate of >95%.

► Socio-economic implications due to food recalls,

litigations, hospitalization and death amount to a huge
burden to the nation.

► This is evident in the current outbreak in the country

which cost Tiger brand an estimated R 350 million in
food recalls.

► Economic losses due to South African RTE products being

banned for export market.
 Current status of Listeriosis outbreak
in South Africa
► As of 04 March 2018, an outbreak of human listeriosis
recently reported by National Institute for Communicable
Diseases (NICD) had identified a total of 984 laboratory-
confirmed human cases from all provinces across the
country which resulted in 180 deaths.

► The source has been linked to RTE processed meat

products (polony, viennas/sausages and other cold meats).

► The conclusion was made by the Department of Health

that the source of the outbreak was the Enterprise Food
production facility in Polokwane, (Germiston?) and RCL
Wolwehoek, Sasolburg.