Epidemiology and risk management of listeriosis in India

• Published in: International journal of food microbiology Vol. 154; no. 3; pp. 113 - 118
• Main Authors: Barbuddhe, S.B., Malik, S.V.S., Kumar, J. Ashok, Kalorey, D.R., Chakraborty, T.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 15.03.2012
• Subjects: Abortion; Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Animal populations; Animals; Child, Preschool; Disease Outbreaks; Elderly; Endometritis; Epidemiology; Female; Food; Food Microbiology - legislation & jurisprudence; Food Safety; Geriatrics; Humans; Immunocompromised hosts; India; India - epidemiology; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Infants; Infection; Listeria monocytogenes; Listeria monocytogenes - isolation & purification; Listeriosis; Listeriosis - epidemiology; Listeriosis - veterinary; Male; Mastitis; Meat; Meat products; Meningoencephalitis; Milk; Milk products; Neonates; Pathogens; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications, Infectious - epidemiology; Risk assessment; Risk Factors; Risk groups; Risk Management; Seafood; Vegetables; Young Adult; India; Listeria monocytogenes; Listeriosis; Animals; Humans; Food; India
• ISSN: 0168-1605; 1879-3460
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2011.08.030

Listeria monocytogenes is a foodborne pathogen that can cause serious invasive illness, mainly in certain well-defined high-risk groups, including elderly and immunocompromised patients, pregnant women, newborns and infants. In India, this pathogen has been isolated from humans, animals and foods. The incidence of Listeria is generally comparable to those reported elsewhere in the world. In humans, maternal/neonatal listeriosis is the most common clinical form reported. Among animal populations, spontaneous abortions, subclinical mastitis, meningoencephalitis and endometritis were the commonest forms reported. The disease largely remains undiagnosed and under reported. From reported analyses of a variety of foods for Listeria, milk and milk products, meat and meat products, seafood and vegetables have been reported to be contaminated in India. The legal framework for microbiological safety of foods against microbes including L. monocytogenes is summarised. The epidemiological studies would help in understanding of the sources of infection and persistence and their risk assessment, routes of transmission, clinical forms and allow for better management of the infection. ► We summarised the epidemiology and legal framework of listeriosis in India. ► Listeria monocytogenes has been detected in human, animals and foods in India. ► The genital/neonatal form of listeriosis is most commonly reported among humans. ► Reproductive disorders, subclinical mastitis, and meningoencephalitis were reported among animal populations. ► India has surfeit of laws regulating the food safety and other activities of food industry