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Review
. 2020 Oct 9;87(1):e1-e20.
doi: 10.4102/ojvr.v87i1.1869.

A review of Listeria monocytogenes from meat and meat products: Epidemiology, virulence factors, antimicrobial resistance and diagnosis

Itumeleng Matle  1 , Khanyisile R Mbatha, Evelyn Madoroba
Affiliations
Review

A review of Listeria monocytogenes from meat and meat products: Epidemiology, virulence factors, antimicrobial resistance and diagnosis

Itumeleng Matle et al. Onderstepoort J Vet Res. .

Abstract

Listeria monocytogenes is a zoonotic food-borne pathogen that is associated with serious public health and economic implications. In animals, L. monocytogenes can be associated with clinical listeriosis, which is characterised by symptoms such as abortion, encephalitis and septicaemia. In human beings, listeriosis symptoms include encephalitis, septicaemia and meningitis. In addition, listeriosis may cause gastroenteric symptoms in human beings and still births or spontaneous abortions in pregnant women. In the last few years, a number of reported outbreaks and sporadic cases associated with consumption of contaminated meat and meat products with L. monocytogenes have increased in developing countries. A variety of virulence factors play a role in the pathogenicity of L. monocytogenes. This zoonotic pathogen can be diagnosed using both classical microbiological techniques and molecular-based methods. There is limited information about L. monocytogenes recovered from meat and meat products in African countries. This review strives to: (1) provide information on prevalence and control measures of L. monocytogenes along the meat value chain, (2) describe the epidemiology of L. monocytogenes (3) provide an overview of different methods for detection and typing of L. monocytogenes for epidemiological, regulatory and trading purposes and (4) discuss the pathogenicity, virulence traits and antimicrobial resistance profiles of L. monocytogenes.

Keywords: Listeria monocytogenes; antimicrobial resistance; diagnosis; epidemiology; meat and meat products; virulence factors.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Pathogenesis and virulence genes involved in listeriosis infection in human cells.
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Organisation of the central virulence gene cluster of Listeria monocytogenes.
FIGURE 3
FIGURE 3
Implicated routes of transmission for Listeria monocytogenes infection to humans.
FIGURE 4
FIGURE 4
The illustration of International Standard method.
FIGURE 5
FIGURE 5
The illustration of United States Department of Agriculture method.
FIGURE 6
FIGURE 6
The illustration of ONE-Broth method.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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