New Listeria monocytogenes strain – Digital Food Institute

Institute of Food Chain Science

Department of Digital Food Science

New Listeria monocytogenes strain

17/12/2020

A hypervirulent strain of Listeria monocytogenes has been identified in lambs in a Chinese province. The newly discovered strain carries the gene sequences responsible for the pathogenicity of the most virulent Listeria strains in animals and humans, making them particularly dangerous and causing severe infections.

The source of human infection is mainly contaminated food. Symptoms of listeriosis may include general gastrointestinal symptoms (vomiting, diarrhoea, fever), sepsis, and central nervous system symptoms with lifelong consequences. It is particularly dangerous for elderly people, children and pregnant women (with mortality rates of up to 30%). The source of infection is often difficult to identify because of the long incubation period.

The research team that discovered the new strain is calling for international cooperation on the issue.

Institute of Food Chain Science

Department of Digital Food Science

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