Eye infections due to Listeria monocytogenes in three cows and one horse.
Abstract: A retrospective study was conducted to determine case histories, microbiological characteristics, and molecular subtypes associated with Listeria monocytogenes infections of the eye in large animals. For selected cases, environmental L. monocytogenes contamination patterns on case farms were also evaluated to probe for potential sources and spread of listerial eye infections. Records of 170 L. monocytogenes isolates from animal infections were reviewed to determine the fraction of isolates associated with eye infections (conjunctivitis, keratitis, and uveitis) of animals and to gather information on the clinical history of these cases. Overall, 4 of 170 Listeria monocytogenes isolates were associated with eye infections; 3 of these had occurred in cows and 1 in a horse. Molecular subtyping (by EcoRI ribotying) showed that 4 different L. monocytogenes subtypes were isolated from these 4 cases; the same ribotypes had previously been found among invasive animal listeriosis infections. Although a variety of L. monocytogenes subtypes were isolated from environmental sources, on 1 farm, the same ribotype associated with the eye infection was also isolated from a fecal sample of a healthy animal and from a soil sample. The data reported in this study further suggest that L. monocytogenes can be a cause of eye infections in several animal species. Listerial eye infections do not seem to require specific pathogen-related virulence characteristics but rather seem to be a function of environmental or host factors, such as direct exposure of the eyes of susceptible animals to high numbers of the pathogen. Although listerial eye infections are rarely diagnosed because of its ubiquitous nature, L. monocytogenes may have to be considered more commonly as a causative agent of eye infections in ruminants and horses.
Publication Date: 2004-10-06 PubMed ID: 15460335DOI: 10.1177/104063870401600519Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- U.S. Gov't
- Non-P.H.S.
- Research Support
- U.S. Gov't
- P.H.S.
Summary
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The research article reports on a study that looked into eye infections caused by Listeria monocytogenes in larger animals, particularly focusing on three cows and one horse. It sought to understand how environmental factors and host characteristics contribute to these infections.
About the Study
- The study analysed past instances of Listeria monocytogenes eye infections in large animals. High emphasis was placed on studying the case histories, microbiological characteristics, and molecular subtypes related to the infections.
- For select cases, the team evaluated Listeria monocytogenes contamination patterns on the farms where the infected animals stayed. By understanding the environmental bacteria spread, the researchers strengthened their insights regarding the source of the eye infections and subsequent transmission.
Study Data and Methodology
- The research involved reviewing records of 170 Listeria monocytogenes isolates garnered from animals. The primary aim was to identify the fraction that related to eye infections, for instance, conjunctivitis, keratitis, or uveitis, and aggregate the clinical history related to them.
- Out of the 170 isolates, only four were documented as eye infections, with three instances found in cows and one in a horse.
- Interestingly, molecular subtyping revealed the existence of four different Listeria monocytogenes subtypes associated with the four eye infection cases.
Findings and Implications
- The findings suggest that Listeria monocytogenes is a potential cause of eye infections in diverse animal species. Not only is the pathogen-related virulence a concern, but environmental and host factors are also significant. Increased exposure of the eyes to high levels of the pathogen in susceptible animals seems to induce the infection.
- Despite the low diagnosis rate due to Listeria monocytogenes’ omnipresence, it may be a more common cause of ruminant and horse eye infections than currently believed, highlighting the importance of considering this bacteria in studies and treatment of eye infections in these animals.
- Environmental sources contained various Listeria monocytogenes subtypes, but on one specific farm, the same subtype associated with the eye infection was found in a healthy animal’s fecal matter and a soil sample. This indicates that Listeria monocytogenes can spread within a farm environment, leading to possible cross-contamination.
Cite This Article
APA
Evans K, Smith M, McDonough P, Wiedmann M.
(2004).
Eye infections due to Listeria monocytogenes in three cows and one horse.
J Vet Diagn Invest, 16(5), 464-469.
https://doi.org/10.1177/104063870401600519 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Food Science, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Cattle
- Cattle Diseases / microbiology
- DNA, Bacterial / chemistry
- DNA, Bacterial / genetics
- Environmental Exposure
- Eye Infections, Bacterial / microbiology
- Eye Infections, Bacterial / veterinary
- Female
- Hemolysin Factors / chemistry
- Hemolysin Factors / genetics
- Horse Diseases / microbiology
- Horses
- Listeria monocytogenes / genetics
- Listeria monocytogenes / isolation & purification
- Listeriosis / microbiology
- Listeriosis / veterinary
- Polymerase Chain Reaction / veterinary
- Polymorphism, Genetic
- Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length
- Retrospective Studies
- Ribotyping / veterinary
Grant Funding
- R01GM63259 / NIGMS NIH HHS
Citations
This article has been cited 13 times.- Matto C, Rivero R, Mota MI, Braga V, Gianneechini E, Varela G. Identification and characterization of Listeria monocytogenes and Listeria innocua in bovine listeriosis cases in Uruguay. Trop Anim Health Prod 2025 Apr 7;57(3):160.
- Abdugheni R, Li L, Yang ZN, Huang Y, Fang BZ, Shurigin V, Mohamad OAA, Liu YH, Li WJ. Microbial Risks Caused by Livestock Excrement: Current Research Status and Prospects. Microorganisms 2023 Jul 27;11(8).
- Phelps S, Chong D, McKenzie E, Kiupel M, Gorman E. Rapport de cas Mononuclear pleocytosis and meningoencephalitis caused by Listeria monocytogenes in an adult horse. Can Vet J 2023 Apr;64(4):363-366.
- Cardenas-Alvarez MX, Zeng H, Webb BT, Mani R, Muñoz M, Bergholz TM. Comparative Genomics of Listeria monocytogenes Isolates from Ruminant Listeriosis Cases in the Midwest United States. Microbiol Spectr 2022 Dec 21;10(6):e0157922.
- Šteingolde Ž, Meistere I, Avsejenko J, Ķibilds J, Bergšpica I, Streikiša M, Gradovska S, Alksne L, Roussel S, Terentjeva M, Bērziņš A. Characterization and Genetic Diversity of Listeria monocytogenes Isolated from Cattle Abortions in Latvia, 2013-2018. Vet Sci 2021 Sep 14;8(9).
- Lécuyer R, Boutoille D, Khatchatourian L, Ducloyer JB, Gibaud S, Raffi F, Gaborit B. Listeria Endophthalmitis Cured With Linezolid in an Immunocompetent Farmer Woman: Hazard of a Sweep of a Cow's Tail. Open Forum Infect Dis 2019 Nov;6(11):ofz459.
- Whitman KJ, Bono JL, Clawson ML, Loy JD, Bosilevac JM, Arthur TM, Ondrak JD. Genomic-based identification of environmental and clinical Listeria monocytogenes strains associated with an abortion outbreak in beef heifers. BMC Vet Res 2020 Feb 22;16(1):70.
- Legendre C, Hannetel H, Ranc AG, Bezza W, Pages L, Vandenesch F, Tristan A, Doleans-Jordheim A. Listeria monocytogenes and ocular abscess: an atypical but yet potential association. Int Ophthalmol 2018 Dec;38(6):2609-2616.
- Revold T, Abayneh T, Brun-Hansen H, Kleppe SL, Ropstad EO, Hellings RA, Sørum H. Listeria monocytogenes associated kerato-conjunctivitis in four horses in Norway. Acta Vet Scand 2015 Nov 9;57:76.
- Headley SA, Bodnar L, Fritzen JT, Bronkhorst DE, Alfieri AF, Okano W, Alfieri AA. Histopathological and molecular characterization of encephalitic listeriosis in small ruminants from northern Paraná, Brazil. Braz J Microbiol 2013;44(3):889-96.
- Shoughy SS, Tabbara KF. Listeria monocytogenes endophthalmitis following keratoconjunctivitis. Clin Ophthalmol 2014;8:301-4.
- Konosonoka IH, Jemeljanovs A, Osmane B, Ikauniece D, Gulbe G. Incidence of Listeria spp. in Dairy Cows Feed and Raw Milk in Latvia. ISRN Vet Sci 2012;2012:435187.
- Hoelzer K, Pouillot R, Dennis S. Animal models of listeriosis: a comparative review of the current state of the art and lessons learned. Vet Res 2012 Mar 14;43(1):18.
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