**2. Why it is important to know much about** *L. monocytogenes***?**

Many lives would be saved if more research on *L. monocytogenes* can be done as well as educating the public about hygiene, food handling, preparation and distribution and cooking. The declaration of the listeriosis outbreak was done in December 2017 in South Africa [1] although the listeriosis outbreak occurred long before December 2017. The reported cases in South Africa were as follows: 743 cases in 2017 and 202 cases in the first 2 months of 2018. In the reported cases, female accounted for 55% and neonates aged ≤28 days accounted for 41% [1]. Gauteng Province had the most reported cases of 59% followed by the Western Cape with 17% and KwaZulu-Natal with 7%. The National Health Laboratory Services (NHLS) sampled over 1500 food stuffs from retail outlets, food-processing plants and patients. The molecular sequences were done at the NICD. Over 70 items tested positive for *L. monocytogenes.* **Figure 1** taken from NICD shows the confirmation of listerial infection per age distribution. The readyto-eat meat products, which include Russians, ham, other 'cold' meats, sausages, Viennas and Polonies, were found to be the source of listerial outbreak.

**Figure 1** shows that neonates were severely affected by the outbreak of listeriosis in South Africa. The results are similar to the reported [8] maternofetal listeriosis or neonatal listeriosis which presented life-threatening illness. Gastrointestinal listeriosis has been widely reported in the developed countries as shown in **Table 1**.

**3. Chapters in this book**

N/A, number of cases not given.

prevention and control.

**Acknowledgements**

**Author details**

Monde A. Nyila

Florida, Republic of South Africa

The chapters in this book cover a vast scope with regard to the *L. monocytogenes* pathogen.

2001 CA, USA 16 Delicatessen turkey ready-to-eat meat

Introductory Chapter: *Listeria monocytogenes* http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.76905 5

**Year Location Number of cases Implicated source**

1998 Finland N/A Cold-smoked fish 2000 New Zealand 32 Ready-to-eat meat

2001 Sweden 48 Raw milk cheese

2001 Japan 38 Cheese

**Table 1.** Gastrointestinal listeriosis outbreaks, 1993–2001 (adapted from [8]).

1997 Northern Italy 1566 Cold corn and tuna salad

1993 Northern Italy 18 Rice salad 1994 IL, USA 44 Chocolate milk

The topics cover *L. monocytogenes* in medical research, quality assurance of raw food material, virulence traits of *L. monocytogenes* relevant to food safety, and so on. The topics investigate at *L. monocytogenes* in all angles such as pathogenicity, virulence, stress factors, susceptibility,

I would like to thank the Publishing Process Manager, Markus Mattila, for his assistance in communicating and liaising with the contributing authors and also keeping me up to speed with regard to the submissions of chapter proposals and full chapters. I also thank my institu-

Department of Life and Consumer Sciences, University of South Africa, Johannesburg,

tion, the University of South Africa, for giving me support.

Address all correspondence to: nyilama@unisa.ac.za

**Figure 1.** Age distribution and outcome of laboratory-confirmed cases of listeriosis identified from 1 January 2017 to 27 February 2018 (n = 909 where age was reported) [1].


N/A, number of cases not given.

**2. Why it is important to know much about** *L. monocytogenes***?**

Polonies, were found to be the source of listerial outbreak.

in the developed countries as shown in **Table 1**.

4 Listeria Monocytogenes

February 2018 (n = 909 where age was reported) [1].

Many lives would be saved if more research on *L. monocytogenes* can be done as well as educating the public about hygiene, food handling, preparation and distribution and cooking. The declaration of the listeriosis outbreak was done in December 2017 in South Africa [1] although the listeriosis outbreak occurred long before December 2017. The reported cases in South Africa were as follows: 743 cases in 2017 and 202 cases in the first 2 months of 2018. In the reported cases, female accounted for 55% and neonates aged ≤28 days accounted for 41% [1]. Gauteng Province had the most reported cases of 59% followed by the Western Cape with 17% and KwaZulu-Natal with 7%. The National Health Laboratory Services (NHLS) sampled over 1500 food stuffs from retail outlets, food-processing plants and patients. The molecular sequences were done at the NICD. Over 70 items tested positive for *L. monocytogenes.* **Figure 1** taken from NICD shows the confirmation of listerial infection per age distribution. The readyto-eat meat products, which include Russians, ham, other 'cold' meats, sausages, Viennas and

**Figure 1** shows that neonates were severely affected by the outbreak of listeriosis in South Africa. The results are similar to the reported [8] maternofetal listeriosis or neonatal listeriosis which presented life-threatening illness. Gastrointestinal listeriosis has been widely reported

**Figure 1.** Age distribution and outcome of laboratory-confirmed cases of listeriosis identified from 1 January 2017 to 27

**Table 1.** Gastrointestinal listeriosis outbreaks, 1993–2001 (adapted from [8]).

### **3. Chapters in this book**

The chapters in this book cover a vast scope with regard to the *L. monocytogenes* pathogen.

The topics cover *L. monocytogenes* in medical research, quality assurance of raw food material, virulence traits of *L. monocytogenes* relevant to food safety, and so on. The topics investigate at *L. monocytogenes* in all angles such as pathogenicity, virulence, stress factors, susceptibility, prevention and control.

#### **Acknowledgements**

I would like to thank the Publishing Process Manager, Markus Mattila, for his assistance in communicating and liaising with the contributing authors and also keeping me up to speed with regard to the submissions of chapter proposals and full chapters. I also thank my institution, the University of South Africa, for giving me support.
