Listeriose em ruminantes e sua importância como zoonose

Abstract

Listeriosis is an infectious disease caused by Gram-positive bacteria. This bacteria, called Listeria monocytogenes, is a facultative intracellular microorganism that has a predilection for causing infections of the central nervous system (CNS) in humans and domestic animals. In addition, it also may affect several animal species, inducing various forms of clinical manifestation, including septicemia of neonates with abscesses in viscera such as liver and spleen, abortion, neonatal death, ophthalmitis, and neurological disease as meningoencephalitis. Moreover, only one clinical form has seen in previous outbreaks. Several factors favor bacterial growth as poor quality silage (pH above 5.5) favors; other sources of infection include contaminated soil and food, and feces or milk from carried animal. In Brazil, no previous outbreaks involving L. monocytogenes have reported in humans; however some authors have conducted several researches on food and equipment involved in the manufacturing process. In a healthy population, consumption of contaminated food with L. monocytogenes usually causes a self-limiting gastroenteritis, fever, nausea, vomit, and diarrhea. Patients develop clinical signs within a few days of exposure to contaminated food. Several outbreaks involving various types of food have been described around the world. In some cases of gastroenteritis may lead to the invasive form of listeriosis in humans. Thus, it was the target of several studies as one of the major foodborne diseases for humans, causing several outbreaks around the world. This agent has a predilection for CNS tissue of humans and animals. Therefore, the purpose of this work is to clarify the interrelationship between Listeriosis as zoonosis and ruminant disease.