Animal listeriosis in Türkiye: A descriptive and comparative study of a One Health relevant disease
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.66585/ohmi.2025.1.0003الكلمات المفتاحية:
Abortion، Encephalitis، Listeria monocytogenes، Listeriosis، Türkiyeالملخص
Listeriosis is a significant zoonotic disease affecting ruminants and causing substantial economic losses in livestock production. Although numerous regional studies have been conducted in Türkiye, a comprehensive synthesis of available data has been lacking. The current study aimed to evaluate the epidemiology, clinical forms, diagnostic approaches, and regional distribution of animal listeriosis in Türkiye. Studies reporting clinical listeriosis in animals in Türkiye between 1980 and 2024 were included. Due to methodological heterogeneity, a descriptive-analytic approach was adopted. A total of 26 studies were included. Most studies were conducted in Eastern and Central Anatolia, regions with intensive ruminant farming and widespread silage use. Sample sizes ranged from 18 to 3,760 animals. The most frequently investigated species were sheep (n=13 studies) and cattle (n=9 studies), followed by goats, dogs, and horses. Molecular and culture-based studies generally reported low positivity rates (0–7.29%), whereas serological studies showed a substantially wider range (17–86.69%), suggesting past exposure rather than active infection. An exceptionally high culture positivity rate (66.6%) was reported in a small-scale investigation of an encephalitic outbreak, whereas 100% seropositivity was observed in limited farm-based screenings of horses and dogs. Both findings likely reflect context-specific findings from small samples rather than population-level prevalence. Clinically, encephalitic and abortive forms were predominant in small ruminants, whereas subclinical infections were frequently reported in cattle through serological surveillance. The available evidence indicates that contaminated silage is a major epidemiological risk factor, particularly in regions with prolonged winter feeding. Notably, national surveillance data remain scarce, and most studies were cross-sectional or case-based. In conclusion, animal listeriosis remains a significant health concern in Türkiye, particularly in ruminant-dense regions. Strengthening surveillance and expanding molecular diagnostics in primary animal production farms, along with integration within a One Health framework, are essential to better define the disease burden and reduce zoonotic risk.
المراجع
1. Končurat A, Sukalić T. Listeriosis: Characteristics, occurrence in domestic animals, public health significance, surveillance and control. Microorganisms. 2024;12(10):2055. https://doi.org/10.33
90/microorganisms12102055
2. Al-Hilifi SA, George SS, Abdul-Karim S, Thakur M, Petkoska AT, Al-Farga A, et al. Listeria monocytogenes in meat and meat products: Occurrence, detection, antibiotic resistance, and food safety implications. Foodborne Pathog Dis. 2026;0(0). https://doi.org/10. 1177/15353141251408323
3. Ivanek R, Gröhn YT, Wiedmann M. Listeria monocytogenes in multiple habitats and host populations: Review of available data for mathematical modeling. Foodborne Pathog Dis. 2006;3(4):319–36. https://doi.org/10.1089/fpd.2006.3.319
4. Dhama K, Karthik K, Tiwari R, Shabbir MZ, Barbuddhe S, Malik SV, et al. Listeriosis in animals, its public health significance (food-borne zoonosis) and advances in diagnosis and control: A comprehensive review. Vet Q. 2015;35(4):211–35. https://doi.org/10.1080/01652
176.2015.1063023
5. Belalcazar ME, Poutou RA, Torres KJ, Gallegos JM, Torres García O, Carrascal AK. Listeria monocytogenes y listeriosis animal. Rev Colomb Cienc Pecu. 2005;18(1):68–81.
6. Fentahun T, Fresebehat A. Listeriosis in small ruminants: A review. Adv Biol Res. 2012;6(6):202–9. https://doi.org/10.5829/idosi.abr.2
012.6.6.66159
7. Giaccone V, Catellani P. Diseases of dairy animals: Infectious diseases: Listeriosis. In: Reference Module in Food Science. Elsevier; 2015. p. 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-08-100596-5.0072
7-7
8. Durmaz H, Avci M, Aygün O. The presence of Listeria species in corn silage and raw milk produced in the southeast region of Turkey. Kafkas Univ Vet Fak Derg. 2015;21(1):79–84. https://doi.org/10.97
75/kvfd.2014.11664
9. Akar K, Sanioğlu-Gölen G, Babaoğlu AR, Ekin İH. Investigation of the presence and prevalence of listeriosis in clinical samples in Van and its region. Harran Univ J Fac Vet Med. 2024;13(1):63–67. https://doi.org/10.31196/huvfd.1462209
10. Solmaz H, Akkan HA, Tütüncü M, Karaca M, Ekin İH, Kutlu İ, et al. Van ve yöresinde atlarda listeriozisin seroprevalansı. Res Vet Sci. 2002;51(2):185–92.
11. Börkü MK, Ural K, Gazyağci S, Özkanlar Y, Babür C, Kilic S. Serological detection of listeriosis at a farm. Turk J Vet Anim Sci. 2006;30(2):279–82.
12. Gülaydin Ö, Öztürk C, Ekin I, Ilhan Z, Ilhan F. Investigation of selected bacterial agents causing sheep abortion in the Van province by RT-PCR and histopathological methods. Acta Vet Brno. 2023;92:69–77. https://doi.org/10.2754/avb202392010069
13. Şevik M. A six-year epidemiological study of selected zoonotic abortifacient agents in ovine and caprine foetuses in Türkiye. Epidemiol Infect. 2024;152:e173. https://doi.org/10.1017/S09502
68824001699
14. Akca D, Buyuk F, Celik E, Saglam AG, Otlu S, Dag S, et al. Phylogenetic positioning of Listeria ivanovii identified in aborted sheep in Kars region (Turkey). Thai J Vet Med. 2022;52(1):14. https://doi.org/10.56808/2985-1130.3199
15. Das M, Ojha AK, Albert V, Borah S, Ramamurthy T, Das S, et al. Threats of zoonotic pathogens in food chain: Current status and gaps in India. Heliyon. 2025;11(1):e41240. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.he
liyon.2024.e41240
16. Çokal Y. Bandırma ve çevresinde bulunan süt sığırı işletmelerinde Listeria türlerinin varlığı. Etlik Vet Mikrobiyol Derg. 2014;25(2):39–46.
17. İçen H, Babür C, Bademkıran S, Çelebi B, Şimşek A, Özyurtlu N, et al. Diyarbakır bölgesindeki sahipsiz köpeklerde toxoplasmosis, leishmaniasis ve listeriozisin seroprevalansı. Türkiye Parazitol Derg. 2010;34(1):6–10.
18. Cebeci T. Listeria monocytogenes in ruminants at an abattoir: Prevalence, virulence characteristics, serotypes, and antibiotic resistance in Eastern Türkiye. Isr J Vet Med. 2022;77:4.
19. EFSA Panel on Biological Hazards (BIOHAZ), ECDC. The European Union One Health 2022 zoonoses report. EFSA J. 2023;21(12):e8132.
20. Rocha CE, Mol JPS, Garcia LNN, Costa LF, Santos RL, Paixão TA. Comparative experimental infection of Listeria monocytogenes and Listeria ivanovii in bovine trophoblasts. PLoS ONE. 2017;12(5):e0176911. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0176
911
21. Hatipoğlu F, Terzi F, Özdemir Ö, Ortatatli M, Çiftçi MK, Ateş MB. Comparison of histopathological, immunohistochemical, and real-time PCR methods for diagnosis of listeriosis in ruminants with encephalitis. Kafkas Univ Vet Fak Derg. 2022;28(5):643–52. https://doi.org/10.9775/kvfd.2022.27945
22. Schweizer G, Ehrensperger F, Torgerson PR, Braun U. Clinical findings and treatment of 94 cattle presumptively diagnosed with listeriosis. Vet Rec. 2006;158(17):588–92. https://doi.org/10.1136
/vr.158.17.588
23. Ural K, Alçı Ural D, Çelebi B, Haydardedeoğlu AE, Babür C, Barıtcı I, et al. Seroprevalence of listeriosis, toxoplasmosis, and brucellosis in Saanen x Kilis and Angora goats in Ankara. Firat Univ Sagl Bil Vet Derg. 2009;23:79–82.
24. Ali H, Tohamy HG, Al-Hattali R, Al-Habsi H, Al-Habsi K, Elshafie EI, et al. Encephalitic listeriosis in small ruminants in Oman: Pathophysiology, antimicrobial sensitivity, and molecular characterization. Pak Vet J. 2024;44(1):87–92. https://doi.org/10.2
9261/pakvetj/2023.117
25. Rothrock MJ, Davis ML, Locatelli A, Bodie A, McIntosh TG, Donaldson JR, et al. Listeria occurrence in poultry flocks: Detection and potential implications. Front Vet Sci. 2017;4:1–7.
26. Mahajan V, Bal MS, Filia G, Leishangthem GD, Sandhu KS. Diagnosis of encephalitic listerial outbreak in sheep - immunohistopathological study. Int J Curr Microbiol App Sci. 2020;9(6):3235–38. https://doi.org/10.20546/ijcmas.2020.906.38
6
27. Zakir S, Abdo S, Bushra MM, Hussein AJ. Current epidemiologic status and public health importance of listeriosis: A review. J Vet Physiol Pathol. 2022;1(3):61–68. https://doi.org/10.58803/jvpp.v1
i3.10
28. Kulesh R, Shinde SV, Kawareti PK, Salame A. Serological characterization in cattle serum for Listeria monocytogenes. Int J Curr Microbiol App Sci. 2018;7(8):730–34. https://doi.org/10.2054
6/ijcmas.2018.708.080
29. Vázquez-Boland JA, Kuhn M, Berche P, Chakraborty T, Domínguez-Bernal G, Goebel W, et al. Listeria pathogenesis and molecular virulence determinants. Clin Microbiol Rev. 2001;14(3):584–640. https://doi.org/10.1128/CMR.14.3.584-640.2001
30. Nightingale KK, Schukken YH, Nightingale CR, Fortes ED, Ho AJ, Her Z, et al. Ecology and transmission of Listeria monocytogenes infecting ruminants and in the farm environment. Appl Environ Microbiol. 2004;70(8):4458–67. https://doi.org/10.1128/AEM.70.
8.4458-4467.2004
31. Karakurt E, Büyük F, Dağ S, Beytut E, Çelebi Ö, Karataş Ö, et al. Investigation of ruminant encephalitic and septicemic listeriosis by the immunofluorescence method. Etlik Vet Mikrobiyol Derg. 2021;32(1):33–39. https://doi.org/10.35864/evmd.748570
32. Şevik M. Zoonotic abortifacient agents in bovine abortion: Diagnostic assessment of 125 cases (2015–2017). Vet Med Sci. 2025;11(3):e70354. https://doi.org/10.1002/vms3.70354
33. Queiroz OCM, Ogunade IM, Weinberg Z, Adesogan AT. Silage review: Foodborne pathogens in silage and their mitigation by silage additives. J Dairy Sci 2018;101(5):4132–4142. https://doi.org/10.3
168/jds.2017-13901
34. Tasci F, Turutoglu H, Ogutcu H. Investigations of Listeria species in milk and silage produced in Burdur province. Kafkas Univ Vet Fak Derg. 2010;16(1):75–79. https://doi.org/10.9775/kvfd.2010.1744
35. Nucera DM, Grassi MA, Morra P, Piano S, Tabacco E, Borreani G. Detection, identification, and typing of Listeria species from baled silages fed to dairy cows. J Dairy Sci 2016;99(8):6121–6133. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2016-10928
36. Wareth G, Neubauer H. The striking incidence of animal listeriosis in Germany (2014–2024) indicates a persistent but neglected risk for One Health. Vet Res. 2025;56(1):53. https://doi.org/10.1186/s135
67-025-01481-4
37. Kennerman E, Babür C, Kılıç S. Determination of seroprevalence of Listeria monocytogenes antibodies in cattle in Bursa province of Turkey. Uludag Univ J Fac Vet Med. 2005;24(1–4):95–98.
38. Erdogan HM, Gökçe G, Gökce Hİ, Kırmızıgül AH, Güne V, Sural E, et al. Kars yöresindeki sığırlarda Listeria monocytogenes enfeksiyonlarının ELISA yöntemi ile araştırılması. Kafkas Univ Vet Fak Derg. 1999;5:43–46.
39. Atil E, Ertas HB, Ozbey G. Isolation and molecular characterization of Listeria spp. from animals, food, and environmental samples. Vet Arh. 2011;81(4):547–57.
40. Barkallah M, Gharbi Y, Hmani M, Mallek Z, Gautier M, Gdoura R, et al. Locked nucleic acid probe-based real-time PCR for the diagnosis of Listeria monocytogenes in ruminants. Mol Cell Probes 2016;27:59–65. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mcp.2016.02.010
41. Eld K, Tham MD, Gunnarsson A, Tham W. Comparison of a cold enrichment method and the IDF method for isolation of Listeria monocytogenes from animal autopsy material. Vet Microbiol 1993;37(3–4):295–302. https://doi.org/10.1016/03781135(93)90
139-X
42. Barman NN, Nath AJ, Doley S, Begum SA, Kakati P, Das SK, et al. Listeriosis in a peri-urban area: Cultural and molecular characterization of Listeria monocytogenes isolated from encephalitic goats. Vet World 2020;13(9):1743–1749. https://doi.o
rg/10.14202/vetworld.2020.1743-1749
43. Oni OO, Adesiyun AA, Adekeye JO, Sai'du SN. Sero-prevalence of agglutinins to Listeria monocytogenes in Nigerian domestic animals. Rev Elev Med Vet Pays Trop 1989;42(3):383–388.
44. Tola EH. Prevalence, antimicrobial resistance, and characterization of Listeria spp. isolated from various sources in Ethiopia: A comprehensive review. Vet Med (Auckl) 2024;15:109–116. https://doi.org/10.2147/VMRR.S451837
45. Öcal N, Babür C, Yağcı BB, Macun HC, Çelebi B, Kılıç S, et al. Kırıkkale yöresinde süt sığırlarında brusellozis, listeriozis ve toksoplazmozis'in seroprevalansı ve birlikte görülme sıklığı. Kafkas Univ Vet Fak Derg. 2008;14(1):45–50.
46. Karaca M, Babür C, Çelebi B, Akkan HA, Tütüncü M, Keleş İ, et al. Investigation on the seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis, listeriosis, and brucellosis in goats living in the region of Van, Turkey. YYU Vet Fak Derg. 2007;18(1):45–49.
47. İçen H, Babür C, Bademkıran S, Çelebi B, Şimşek A, Özyurtlu N, et al. Diyarbakır bölgesindeki sahipsiz köpeklerde toxoplasmosis, leishmaniasis ve listeriozisin seroprevalansı. Türkiye Parazitol Derg 2010;34(1):6–10.
48. Aktaş MS, Özkanlar YE, Özkan AT, Babür C, Balkaya İ. Erzurum İli barınak köpeklerinde listeriosis ve leishmaniasisin seroprevalansının araştırılması. Türkiye Parazitol Derg. 2010;34(2):76–80.
49. Yanmaz B. Prevalence of Listeria monocytogenes in dairy products in Turkey: A meta-analysis. Vet J Mehmet Akif Ersoy Univ. 2023;8(3):212–18. https://doi.org/10.24880/maeuvfd.1356384
50. Arda M. Orta Anadolu Bölgesi koyunlarında abortus olgularının etiyolojisi ve serolojisi üzerinde bir çalışma. Ankara Univ Vet Fak Derg. 1987;34(02).
51. Muz A, Özer H, Eröksüz H, Ertaş HB, Öngör H, Gülcü HB, et al. Bacteriologic, serologic, and pathologic studies on abortus cases of goats and sheep in Elazığ and its vicinity. Turk J Vet Anim Sci. 1999;23(7):177–88.
52. Şahin M, Beytut E. Abortions in sheep due to Listeria ivanovii in the Kars region. Turk J Vet Anim Sci. 2006;30(5):503–6.
53. Dağ S, Akça D, Karaman M, Çelebi Ö, Özen H, Büyük F, et al. Use of immunoperoxidase technique in smears prepared from vaginal secretions in early diagnosis of listerial abortions in cattle. Kafkas Univ Vet Fak Derg. 2013;19(3):459–63. https://doi.org/10.9775/kv
fd.2012.6358
54. Sakmanoğlu A, Uslu A, Sayın Z, Gölen GS, İlban A, Padron-Perez B, et al. A one-year descriptive epidemiology of zoonotic abortifacient pathogen bacteria in farm animals in Turkey. Comp Immunol Microbiol Infect Dis. 2021;77:101665. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ci
mid.2021.101665
55. Kanat Ö. Molecular and histopathologic investigation of Pestivirus, Chlamydophila abortus, and Listeria monocytogenes infections in aborted sheep foetuses. J Hell Vet Med Soc. 2022;73(1):3889–96. https://doi.org/10.12681/jhvms.26289
56. Yeni DK, Balevi A, Ashraf A, Shah M, Büyük F. Molecular detection of bacterial zoonotic abortive agents from ruminants in Turkey. Braz J Microbiol. 2024;55(2):1997–2004. https://doi.org/10.1007/s427
70-024-01300-6
57. Paşa S, Kılıç S, Babür C, Öcal N, Gazyağcı S. Aydın yöresinde koyunlarda listeriosis ve brüselozisin seroprevalansı. Etlik Vet Mikrobiyol Derg. 2003;14(1–2):11–17.
58. Gicik Y, Sari B, Babür C, Celebi B. The seropositivity of Toxoplasma gondii and Listeria monocytogenes in the dogs of Kars and vicinity. Türkiye Parazitol Derg. 2010;34(2):86–90.
59. Yildiz K, Kul O, Babur C, Kilic S, Gazyagci AN, Celebi B, et al. Seroprevalence of Neospora caninum in dairy cattle ranches with high abortion rate: Special emphasis to serologic co-existence with Toxoplasma gondii, Brucella abortus, and Listeria monocytogenes. Vet Parasitol. 2009;164(2–4):306–10. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ve
tpar.2009.06.004
60. Yücel ÖY, Yaman M, Kurt C, Babür C, Çelebi B, Kılıç S, et al. Adana yöresinde sığırlarda brusellozis, listeriozis ve toxoplasmozis seroprevalansı. Türkiye Parazitol Derg. 2014;38:91–96. https://doi.
org/10.5152/tpd.2014.3454
منشور
إصدار
القسم
الرخصة
الحقوق الفكرية (c) 2026 Kadir Akar (Author)
هذا العمل مرخص بموجب Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
