Listeriosis

Listeriosis is an important bacterial disease caused by Listeria monocytogenes which commonly found in the environments and variety of raw food such as uncooked meats (pork and chicken), vegetables and ready to eat food (RTEF) and contaminated during transportation. This gram-positive rod-shaped bacterium can cause septicemia, encephalitis and abortion in man and animals. Listeria infection can then be a serious for people with impaired immune systems. Assistance Professor Dr. Nitaya Indrawattana, the Faculty of Microbiology and Immunology, is now developing an immunochromatographic test (ICT) for the detection of Listeria monocytogenes in food. Her study will lead to the production of ICT kit for rapid, convenient, cost-effective and accurate detection of L. monocytogenes in foods.