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 Bacterial Diseases - LISTERIOSIS

(Circling disease)

AGENT

Listeria monocytogenes, gram positive, pleomorphic rod

RESERVOIR AND INCIDENCE

Isolated from fish, birds, swine, horses, ruminants, guinea pigs, ferrets, gerbils, rabbits, and chinchillas. The principle reservoir of the organism is in forage, water, mud, and silage. The seasonal use of silage as fodder is frequently followed by an increased incidence of listeriosis in animals.

TRANSMISSION:

Outbreaks have been reported associated with ingestion of unpasteurized milk and cheese and contaminated vegetables; some sporadic cases may also be due to food-borne transmission. Refrigeration of foods may provide selective growth of Listeria.  Papular lesions on hands and arms may occur from direct contact with infectious material or soil contaminated with infected animal feces. In neonatal infections, the organism may have been transmitted from mother to fetus inutero or during passage through the infected birth canal. Person-to-person transmission through venereal contact is possible, as is infection from inhalation of the organism.

DISEASE IN ANIMALS:

Two forms exist, the meningoencephalitic and visceral. The former involves neurological signs with dullness and somnolence. Drooling and lack of interest in food and mastication soon follow. There is lateral deviation of the head with a tendency to circle. Paralysis then sets in with recumbency and death from respiratory failure. The visceral from involves abortion, with retained placenta. Microabscesses occur throughout the brain. Visceral lesions involve multiple foci of necrosis in the liver, spleen and heart. Placental lesions are characteristic with yellow necrotic foci and multiple granulomas in the fetal liver. Abscess formation in the eye can lead to blindness. Fatality is very high, approaching 3-30% in outbreaks.

DISEASE IN MAN:

Symptomless fecal carriage is common. Fever, headache, nausea, vomiting, endocarditis, granulomatous lesions in multiple organs, cutaneous involvement, coryza, conjunctivitis, metritis with abortion, sepsis, and meningitis. Granulomatous lesions and abscesses occur in the liver and other organs and beneath the skin. Focal necrosis in the placenta with mononuclear infiltration is seen. Fatality rates may exceed 20%.

DIAGNOSIS:

Culture and isolation (special media required). Serologic tests are unreliable because of cross reactions with other bacterial species.

TREATMENT:

Ampicillin plus an aminoglycoside or Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole.

PREVENTION\CONTROL:

Caution and protective clothing when handling infected tissues. Pregnant women and immunocompromised individuals should avoid contact with potentially infective materials such as aborted animal fetuses and known infected persons; they should eat only properly cooked meats and pasteurized dairy products.