Two episodes of listeriosis in pregnancy and newborns: investigation, problems and considerations

In January 2013, 3 strains of <em>Listeria monocytogenes</em> isolated from one mother and her newborn and a second infant arrived at the Institute for Experimental Veterinary Medicine of Latium and Tuscany. At the same time the Local Health Unit Rome B sampled at retail a smoked salmon...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Selene Marozzi, Rita Tolli, Stefano Bilei, Daniela Ricci, Claudia Rossi, Teresa Bossù
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: PAGEPress Publications 2015-06-01
Series:Italian Journal of Food Safety
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.pagepressjournals.org/index.php/ijfs/article/view/4567
Description
Summary:In January 2013, 3 strains of <em>Listeria monocytogenes</em> isolated from one mother and her newborn and a second infant arrived at the Institute for Experimental Veterinary Medicine of Latium and Tuscany. At the same time the Local Health Unit Rome B sampled at retail a smoked salmon that was suspected to be involved in the transmission of the disease. The sample was tested for the presence of <em>L. monocytogenes</em> (UNI EN ISO 11290: 2005 part 1 and 2). Laboratory investigations have shown that all 3 strains isolated from patients belonged to serotype 4b of two different clusters (cluster B for the isolates from mother and child and cluster A to that obtained from another baby), so no epidemiological link was demonstrated in the human cases. The tests conducted on smoked salmon have shown the presence of <em>L. monocytogenes</em> serotype 1/2a. Therefore, no correlation has been demonstrated between the reported cases of listeriosis and the food analyzed.
ISSN:2239-7132