Human listeriosis and animal models.
Human listeriosis is a potentially fatal foodborne infection caused by Listeria monocytogenes, an opportunistic psychrophile bacterium that is widespread in the environment. It has only recently emerged as a significant cause of human infection in industrialized countries, owing to appearance of a vulnerable population of immunocompromised individuals, and the concomitant development of large-scale agro-industrial plants and refrigerated food. Here we review the main clinical features of human listeriosis and highlight specificities and similarities with animal listeriosis in diverse species. Finally, we present some of the critical determinants for the choice of an appropriate animal model to study human listeriosis.
Lecuit
Marc
M
Avenir Group INSERM U604 Microbial Interactions with Host Barriers, Bacteria Cell Interactions Unit, Department of Cell Biology and Infection, Institut Pasteur, 25 rue du Dr. Roux, 75015 Paris, France. mlecuit@pasteur.fr
D000818:Animals; D000829:Animals, Domestic; D005516:Food Microbiology; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D006801:Humans; D008089:Listeria monocytogenes / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D008088:Listeriosis / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000635:transmission; D051379:Mice; D023421:Models, Animal