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L isteria monocytogenes Infection in a Sugar Glider ( P etaurus breviceps ) – N ew M exico, 2011
Author(s) -
Nichols M.,
Takacs N.,
Ragsdale J.,
Levenson D.,
Marquez C.,
Roache K.,
Tarr C. L.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
zoonoses and public health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.87
H-Index - 65
eISSN - 1863-2378
pISSN - 1863-1959
DOI - 10.1111/zph.12134
Subject(s) - outbreak , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , sugar , facultative , bacteria , food science , virology , ecology , genetics
Summary L isteria monocytogenes is a Gram‐positive, facultative anaerobic, rod‐shaped bacterium that can infect and cause disease in many species. In this case report, we describe a case of L . monocytogenes infection causing sepsis in a sugar glider ( P etaurus breviceps ). The sugar glider consumed a varied diet consisting of human food items, including cantaloupe. A nationwide outbreak of L . monocytogenes foodborne illness associated with cantaloupes occurred simultaneously with this incident case. In this case, the bacterial strains from the outbreak and glider were genetically distinct. Although rare, veterinarians should be aware of the emergence of foodborne pathogens' ability to infect exotic animals residing in domestic environments.