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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Pullman, Washington » Animal Disease Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #159982
Title: DAIRY FARM RESERVOIR OF LISTERIA MONOCYTOGENES SPORADIC AND EPIDEMIC STRAINS

Author
item Borucki, Monica
item Reynolds, James
item GAY, C - WSU
item MCELWAIN, K - WSU
item KIM, SO - WSU
item Knowles Jr, Donald
item HU, JINXIN - DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

Submitted to: Journal of Food Protection
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/1/2004
Publication Date: 10/1/2004
Citation: Borucki, M.K., Reynolds, J.O., Gay, C., Mcelwain, K., Kim, S.H., Knowles Jr, D.P., Hu, J. 2004. Dairy farm reservoir of Listeria monocytogenes sporadic and epidemic strains. Journal of Food Protection. 67(11):2496-2499.

Interpretive Summary: Listeria monocytogenes is a zoonotic food-borne pathogen that is responsible for 28% of food-related deaths in the United States annually, as well as a major cause of massive product recalls worldwide. Because this bacterium is capable of surviving under a wide range of environmental conditions and growth at refrigeration temperatures, it is a significant problem to the food processing industry. In this report we demonstrate that a strain of L. monocytogenes responsible for the 1985 California epidemic continues to cause sporadic human illness and has a dairy farm reservoir.

Technical Abstract: Identifying the reservoirs of a pathogen is vital for control of sporadic disease and epidemics. Listeria monocytogenes is a zoonotic food-borne pathogen that is responsible for 28% of food-related deaths in the United States annually, as well as a major cause of massive product recalls worldwide. Because this bacterium is capable of surviving under a wide range of environmental conditions and growth at refrigeration temperatures, it is a significant problem to the food processing industry. Although listeriosis is a zoonotic disease, the primary reservoir of L. monocytogenes in food processing plants is believed to be environmental strains that colonize the plants. In this report we demonstrate that a strain of L. monocytogenes responsible for the 1985 California epidemic continues to cause sporadic illness and has a dairy farm reservoir.