title: A point-source foodborne listeriosis outbreak: documented incubation period and possible mild illness.
abstract: Listeria bacteremia occurred in 2 pregnant women whose only common exposure was attendance at a party. The incubation period, the possibility of mild disease due to Listeria infection, and foods associated with risk of disease were evaluated. Ten (28%) of 36 party attenders met a case definition, which included isolation of Listeria monocytogenes from blood or stool or two of the following: fever, musculoskeletal symptoms, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea. One of 25 stool cultures was positive. The 2 blood isolates and 1 stool isolate were serotype 4b and identical by enzyme typing. The incubation periods for illness in the 2 pregnant women were 19 and 23 days. Consumption of large amounts of shrimp, nonalcoholic beverages, Camembert cheese, and cauliflower was significantly associated with illness. Eating shrimp remained a significant risk factor for illness after controlling for consumption of other foods. This study suggests a milder illness may exist in healthy persons who consume foods contaminated with L. monocytogenes and demonstrates a prolonged incubation period for disease.
authors.affiliation: Connecticut State Department of Health Services, Hartford.
authors.forename: F X
authors.initials: FX
authors.lastname: Riedo
authors.forename: R W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Pinner
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Tosca
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Cartter
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Graves
authors.forename: M W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Reeves
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Weaver
authors.forename: B D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Plikaytis
authors.forename: C V
authors.initials: CV
authors.lastname: Broome
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003237:Connecticut / Q000453:epidemiology; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D004282:Documentation; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D005516:Food Microbiology; D006801:Humans; D008089:Listeria monocytogenes / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D008088:Listeriosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000635:transmission; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000503:physiopathology; D012703:Serotyping; D013997:Time Factors