NAME: KENE FAVOUR EMEKA

MATRIC NUMBER: 170807035

COURSE CODE: MIC 442
ASSIGMENT: DISCUSS THE FOLLOWING BACTERIA ZOONOSES:
Listeriosis
Glanders

ANSWERS
What are bacteria zoonoses?
Bacterial zoonoses, also known as bacterial zoonotic diseases, are infectious diseases caused by
bacteria that can be transmitted between animals and humans. These diseases are typically
contracted through direct contact with infected animals, their bodily fluids, or their contaminated
environments.
Listeriosis
Listeriosis is a bacterial zoonotic disease caused by the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes. While
Listeria monocytogenes is primarily a foodborne pathogen, it can also be transmitted through
direct contact with infected animals or their contaminated environments. In animals, Listeria
infections are often asymptomatic or result in mild illness. However, animals can serve as
carriers and shed the bacteria in their feces, which can contaminate the environment and
potentially infect humans.
In humans, listeriosis can cause a range of symptoms, from mild flu-like symptoms to more
severe manifestations. The severity of the disease depends on several factors, including the
individual's immune system status and any underlying health conditions. In pregnant women,
listeriosis can lead to miscarriage, stillbirth, or severe illness in the newborn.
Listeria monocytogenes can be found in various sources, including contaminated food products,
particularly those that are consumed raw or undercooked. Examples of foods commonly
associated with listeriosis outbreaks include deli meats, soft cheeses, unpasteurized dairy
products, and refrigerated ready-to-eat foods. Listeria monocytogenes is unique among
foodborne pathogens because it can survive and multiply at refrigeration temperatures. It is
resistant to many environmental conditions and can survive in moist environments, such as soil
and water, where it can come into contact with animals and contaminate their feed or bedding.
Transmission
Transmission of Listeria monocytogenes from animals to humans can occur through various
routes which includes;
Consumption of contaminated food: Eating contaminated animal products, particularly raw or
undercooked meats, unpasteurized dairy products, and certain types of processed foods (e.g., deli
meats and soft cheeses), can lead to infection.
Contact with contaminated environments: Direct contact with surfaces, equipment, or
environments contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, such as in farms or slaughterhouses,
can contribute to the transmission of the bacteria.
Contact with infected animals: People working closely with animals, such as farmers,
veterinarians, and slaughterhouse workers, may be at higher risk of exposure to Listeria
monocytogenes.

Types of Listeriosis
There are two main types of listeriosis namely; a non-invasive form and an invasive form.
Non-invasive form
Non-invasive listeriosis also known as febrile listeria gastroenteritis is a mild form of the disease
affecting mainly otherwise healthy people. Symptoms include diarrhoea, fever, headache and
myalgia also known as muscle pain. The incubation period is short only for a few days.
Outbreaks of this disease have generally involved the ingestion of foods containing high doses of
L. monocytogenes.
Invasive form
Invasive listeriosis is a more severe form of the disease and affects certain high-risk groups of
the population. These include pregnant women, patients undergoing treatment for cancer, HIV
and organ transplants, elderly people and infants. This form of disease is characterized by severe
symptoms and a high mortality rate of about 20–30%. The symptoms include fever, myalgia
(muscle pain), septicemia, meningitis. The incubation period is usually one to two weeks but can
vary between a few days and up to 90 days.
Preventive methods
To prevent listeriosis, it is important to follow safe food handling practices, such as cooking
foods thoroughly, practicing good hygiene during food preparation, and avoiding high-risk foods
like unpasteurized dairy products and deli meats, especially during pregnancy or for individuals
with compromised immune systems. Additionally, proper sanitation and hygiene practices in
animal husbandry and food processing industries can help reduce the prevalence of Listeria
monocytogenes in the environment.
Treatment
Listeriosis can be treated if diagnosed early. Antibiotics are used to treat severe symptoms such
as meningitis. When infection occurs during pregnancy, prompt administration of antibiotics
prevents infection of the fetus or newborn.
Glanders
Glanders is an infectious disease that is caused by the bacterium Burkholderia mallei. While
people can get the disease, glanders is primarily a disease affecting horses. It also affects
donkeys and mules but it can also be transmitted to humans and other animals.
Mode of transmission
In humans, glanders can present in two forms: localized cutaneous glanders and systemic
glanders.
Localized cutaneous glanders: This form of the disease manifests as skin lesions or ulcers at the
site of entry, typically through direct contact with infected animals or contaminated materials.
The skin lesions may be painful and can progress to deep, necrotic ulcers. Lymph nodes near the
site of infection may also become swollen and tender.
Systemic glanders: In rare cases, the bacteria can spread throughout the body, causing a more
severe and life-threatening form of the disease. Systemic glanders can affect various organs,
leading to symptoms such as fever, fatigue, muscle aches, pneumonia, and abscesses in multiple
organs. Without proper treatment, systemic glanders can be fatal.
In addition, those who care for affected animals or handle infected specimens may also face an
increased risk. Such persons can include:
 Veterinarians
 Horse Caretakers
 Laboratorians
 Equine Butchers
 Abattoir Workers

Signs and symptoms

Symptoms of glanders commonly include:
 Fever with chills and sweating
 Muscle aches
 Chest pain
 Muscle tightness
 Headache
 Nasal discharge
 Light sensitivity (sometimes with excessive tearing of the eyes)
The particular symptoms experienced, however, will vary depending on the type of infection.
The four types of infections, along with the symptoms associated with each, are listed below.
 Localized Infection
If there is a cut or scratch in the skin, a localized infection with ulceration may develop within 1
to 5 days at the site where the bacteria entered the body. Swollen lymph nodes may also be
apparent.
Infections involving the mucous membranes in the eyes, nose, and respiratory tract will cause
increased mucus production from the affected sites. Dissemination to other locations in the body
may occur within 1 to 4 weeks after infection.

 Pulmonary Infection
Glanders often manifests itself as pulmonary infection. In pulmonary infections, pneumonia,
pulmonary abscesses, and pleural effusion can occur. Chest X-rays will show localized infection
in the lobes of the lungs.
 Bloodstream Infection
Without treatment, glanders bloodstream infections are usually fatal within 7 to 10 days.
 Chronic Infection
The chronic form of glanders involves multiple abscesses within the muscles and skin of the
arms and legs or in the lungs, spleen, and liver.
Treatment
Human cases of glanders are rare, as a result there is limited information about antibiotic
treatment in humans. However, Sulfadiazine has been found to be effective in experimental
animals and in humans.
In addition, the bacterium that causes glanders are usually susceptible to:
 Tetracyclines
 Ciprofloxacin
 Streptomycin
 Novobiocin
 Gentamicin
 Imipenem
 Ceftazidime
 Sulfonamides