Listeria
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| Listeria | |||||||||||
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L. grayi |
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Listeria is a Gram-positive rod which is not capable of forming endospores. Although several species of this bacterium exist, our discussion will focus only on the two species of human pathogenic significance: L. monocytogenes and L. ivanovii. In particular, L. monocytogenes has been implicated in several food poisoning epidemics.
Listeria are very common, they occur almost everywhere. Some Listeria are pathogens, they can cause a disease called Listeriosis. Listeriosis is usually caused by food gone bad.
In 2011, 21 people died from eating cantaloupes from a Colorado farm having listeria. In 1998, hot dogs and possibly deli meats made by Bil Mar Foods, a subsidiary of Sara Lee Corp., also had listeria and killed 21 people. In 1985, listeria in Mexican-style soft cheese was linked to 52 deaths.[1]
[change] References
- ↑ Associated Press (October 7, 2011). "21 deaths now linked to listeria in cantaloupe, new deaths reported in Indiana, New York". Washington Post. http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/21-deaths-now-linked-to-listeria-in-cantaloupe-new-deaths-reported-in-indiana-new-york/2011/10/07/gIQApgSTTL_story.html. Retrieved October 10, 2011.
