Listeria monocytogenes: the nature, public health aspects and retrospective situations of an emerging infectious pathogen in Nigerian

Abstract

New food borne infectious diseases have continued to emerge world over in the food industries. Listeria monocytogenes, an intracellular bacterium has become an emerging food borne pathogen that causes listeriosis; a zoonotic disease, posing serious risks to public health; in livestock industries, pregnant mothers, neonates and in immunocompromised individuals. Organ of asymptomatic carriers and infected hosts (human, animals and birds) serve as reservoirs of the pathogen from where they spread and infect other susceptible hosts. L. monocytogenes in food contamination may occur in the farm or during food processing, handling and packaging due to poor quality control measures. The molecular and genetic factors on the part of the pathogen may be responsible for its pathogenesis in susceptible individuals. Its' public health importance cannot be over emphasized as L. monocytogenes causes huge economic loss to livestock industries, abortion in pregnant mothers and animals, food poisoning which may lead to death in infected individuals. It is therefore, suggested that proper control strategies, good quality control practices and adequate prevention measures be put in place for effective prevent and control of food borne listeriosis in health, agriculture and environmental systems in Nigeria.

Animal Production Research Advances Vol. 2(2) 2006: 86-93