Epidemiological Aspects of Listeriosis

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Abstract
Listeriosis in both animals and man is more prevalent than published reports indicate. At least 539 cases in man have been confirmed in the United States. Listeriosis is not necessarily an acute highly fatal disease but may be manifested by low-grade, even inapparent infections which pass undetected in nonpregnant subjects but may lead to infection of the uterine contents of the pregnant subject. Listeria moncytogenes may occur in silage in sufficient numbers to produce infection in ruminants. Ticks and other vectors may contribute to dissemination of the bacterium, but their importance remains undetermined. Healthy carriers exist among human and animal populations and these appear to play a predominant role in perpetuation and transmission of the disease. There is no evidence to substantiate the claim that listeriosis in man results primarily from direct contact with infected or carrier animals. Many human subjects may be carriers and when physical and/or physiological stress undermines host resistance, active infection may result.