Listeria monocytogenes dissemination in farming and primary production: Sources, shedding and control measures

Listeria monocytogenes (L. monocytogenes) is a well-known pathogenic bacterium that causes the disease listeriosis in both humans and animals. Human transmission mainly occurs via ingestion of contaminated foods specifically affects pregnant women, newborns, elderly individuals immunosuppressed individuals. Several outbreaks have been historically associated with consumption fresh raw milk unpasteurized cheese, highlighting role good farm hygiene measures to reduce probability contamination. L ubiquitous environment, therefore, this commonly found silage, haylage, grazing pastures, crop fields, farmyards even water. Faeces wild animals, including gulls rooks, also described as important vectors pathogen for animal contamination, well bedding, soils or feed bunk tanks, especially when animals are housed during indoor months. Milking lines, filters, collectors, bulk tanks other utensils room, sites bacterial detection. The ability L. produce biofilms survive humid environments makes elimination difficult increases its persistence equipment on floors, leading high risk contamination at harvest farms. This review explores depth different sources production farms, special focus ruminants, identifying analysing applicable control each stage.