Listeriosis: a Foodborne Infection

Posted by Listeria Attorney on December 25, 2009

Clinical Microbiology and Infection Jan. 2010 V.16 N.1 p.16-23

F. Allerberger and M. Wagner, Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety (AGES), Binational Austrian–German Listeria Reference Centre, Vienna and Institute for Milk Hygiene, Milk Technology and Food Science, Department for Farm Animals and Public Veterinary Health, Vienna, Austria.

Listeria monocytogenes is the causative agent of human listeriosis, a potentially fatal foodborne infection. Clinical manifestations range from febrile gastroenteritis to more severe invasive forms, including sepsis, meningitis, rhombencephalitis, perinatal infections, and abortions. In recent years, an increasing rate of listeriosis has been reported in several European countries. These increases primarily reflect a higher rate of bacteraemic listeriosis in those ≥65 years of age, and are not otherwise correlated with geography, gender, ethnicity, socioeconomic factors or infectious serotypes. In the late 1980s, an upsurge in listeriosis rates was due to the contamination of a small number of food products. However, a restricted range of strains was responsible for most of the additional cases at that time, and no evidence exists for such a pattern since 2001. From a clinical perspective, the importance of isolating the pathogen as a prerequisite for an accurate epidemiological investigation and ultimately stopping transmission cannot be overemphasized.

Associated Grocers Recalls Listeria Hams

Posted by Bill Marler on December 24, 2009

Associated Grocers of Maine, importing firm, a Gardiner, Maine, establishment, is recalling approximately 312 pounds of ham products that may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.
The following products are subject to recall:

6-ounce packages of “SUPER TRIM, Shurfine, IMPORTED, COOKED HAM, WATER ADDED, 98% FAT FREE.”

Each package bears the establishment number “141” inside the Canadian seal of inspection and a Sell by date of “10JA24.” The ham products were produced on November 25, 2009, and distributed to retail establishments in Maine and New Hampshire.

Breese Hollow Dairy suspends raw milk sales after Listeria contamination

Posted by Bill Marler on December 23, 2009

Breese Hollow Dairy in Hoosick Falls has suspended raw milk sales after a sample tested positive for listeria yesterday.

The dairy says that a sample was taken Dec. 14 by the state Department of Agriculture and Markets and tested positive for listeria by the department’s food lab.

Listeria can cause listeriosis, a disease that can cause flu-like symptoms and more serious conditions in sick people.

No illnesses have been reported by the department from raw milk from the farm.

The dairy will not resume sales of raw milk until Ag and Markets re-samples the milk and determines that it is free of pathogens.

Renard's Cheese recalls spread due to Listeria risks

Posted by Bill Marler on December 20, 2009

Renard's Cheese is recalling bacon cold-pack cheese spread sold at its Sturgeon Bay store, because the product may be contaminated with the bacteria called Listeria monocytogenes.

Officials say the bacteria can cause serious or fatal infections in children, elderly people or those with weakened immune systems. It can also cause stillbirth or miscarriage in pregnant women. Other symptoms include high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea.

No one has reported illness due to the spread.

Officials discovered the contamination through routine testing of samples.

The same product and others are also sold at the company's Algoma store, but they are not included in the recall.

Service Smoked Fish Corp. Recalls Smoked Nova Salmon Because of Possible Health Risk

Posted by Listeria Lawyer on December 07, 2009

Service Smoked Fish Corp. of Brooklyn, NY, is recalling specific "Use-By" dates and lot codes of Brooklyn's BEST brand SMOKED NOVA SALMON because they have the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Although healthy individuals may possibly suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, Listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.

Smoked Nova Salmon was distributed in the greater New York area, New Jersey, Connecticut, and the areas of Baltimore, MD, Los Angeles, CA, and Portland, Oregon. Consumers may have purchased the product from retail food stores.

The Smoked Nova Salmon was vacuum-packed in clear, plastic bags of various size packages including 3 oz., 4 oz., 8 oz., 12 oz., 16 oz. and random weight sides with the brand name "Brooklyn's BEST" appearing on a circular label inside the vacuum bag. A "Use-By" date appears on the bottom of the gold board. Units with "Use-By" dates of 12/03/09 through 12/19/09 are being recalled. The product was also air-packed in bulk boxes. Air-packed units with lot numbers 060 through 043 are being recalled. No other use-by dates or lots numbers are involved in this recall.

No illnesses have been reported to date.

The recall is the result of samplings by the Food and Drug Administration which revealed that the finished products contained the bacteria. The company has ceased the production and distribution of the product. The FDA and the company continue their investigation as to what caused the problem.

Listeria Research

Posted by Listeria Lawyer on December 07, 2009

A recent study found that spoiled meat is one of the sources for Listeria infections leading to listeriosis. Pregnant women, newborns and immune compromised people are susceptible for a severe progression of this disease. Firstly, the pathogen breaches the intestinal barrier and thus enters the body. The key for further spreading is the invasion protein internalin B that is located on the bacterial surface.

On human cells, internalin B activates a receptor molecule called "Met", thereby signaling the host cell to take up the pathogen. Inside the cell, Listeria uses the host cell's nutrients and is somehow sheltered from an immune response.

Until now, the researchers did not know how the bacterial invasion protein activates the human receptor. To solve this question, the structural biologists from the HZI first analysed the crystal structures of the single internalin B molecule and of its complex bound to human Met. "In X-Ray structural analysis we noticed that in protein crystals two internalin B molecules align characteristically," says Hartmut Niemann, assistant professor at the University of Bielefeld. Professor Dirk Heinz, head of the structural biologists at the HZI, explains: "This gave rise to the idea of a dimer - two congregated internalin B molecules - playing a pivotal role in the activation of the Met receptor."

Minor changes in the internalin B molecule confirmed their hypothesis: inhibiting the congregation of two internalin B molecules prevented the activation of Met. On the other hand, strengthening the interaction resulted in particularly strong receptor activation.

These results may lead to the development of new protein drugs in the future. "Met plays a major role in the body, for example during wound healing," says Heinz. "Thanks to the extraordinary ability of the internalin B dimer to strongly activate Met, therapeutics for improved wound healing may result someday."