Listeria monocytogenes-associated meningo-encephalitis in cattle clinically suspected of bovine spongiform encephalopathy in Belgium (1998-2006)

Abstract

Listeria monocytogenes is an important foodborne pathogen both in humans and animals. In order to determine the presence and importance of this zoonotic bacterial disease in a subgroup of the Belgian cattle population, all the brain tissue specimens originating from 2,432 cattle clinically suspected of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) that had been submitted to the National Reference Laboratory during the period 1998-2006 were examined for the presence of histopathological lesions pathognomonic for L. monocytogenes meningoencephalitis. Additional Listeria-specific immunohistochemistry was performed in order to confirm the diagnosis of these cases. While in recent years no listeriosis cases have been reported in cattle in Belgium, this study indicates that meningo-encephalitis due to listeriosis is still a non-negligible disease in the Belgian cattle population. The zoonotic character of L. monocytogenes justifies maintaining vigilance for this disease.