ABSTRACT
Listeria monocytogenes is an intracellular, foodborne pathogen potentially lethal for humans and animals. The foodborne diseases caused in humans are classified by the International Commission on Microbiological Specifications for Foods (ICMSF, 2002) into two risk groups. For general population is classified in Group I: “diseases of serious hazard, incapacitating but not life threatening, of moderate duration with infrequent sequelae”. For pregnant women and immunocompromised persons is classified in Group IB: “diseases of severe hazard for restricted population; life threatening or resulting in substantial chronic sequelae or presenting effects of long duration”.
