Received: 21 August 2019 Revised: 12 October 2019 Accepted: 19 October 2019 DOI: 10.1111/jfs.12732 ORIGINAL ARTICLE Overview of listeriosis in the Southern African Hemisphere—Review Adeoye J. Kayode1,2 | Etinosa O. Igbinosa3 | Anthony I. Okoh1,2 1Applied and Environmental Microbiology Research Group (AEMREG), Department of Abstract Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Listeriosis is rarely reported in the Southern African Hemispheres in spite of the Fort Hare, Alice, South Africa increasing rate of Listeria in several foodborne outbreaks reported in advanced coun- 2SAMRC Microbial Water Quality Monitoring Center, University of Fort Hare, Alice, tries. This paper reviews the emerging trends in the spread, distribution, and epidemi- South Africa ology of Listeria species in foods, water, human, animals, and different environments 3Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Private Mail Bag 1154, University of in Southern Africa based on the appraisal of scholarly articles. In this regard, informa- Benin, Benin City, Nigeria tion obtained from literatures from various online databases revealed that Listeria Correspondence species are commonly recovered from food, water, and human samples. Fewer arti- Adeoye J. Kayode, Applied and Environmental cles provided information on Listeria recovered from animals (ruminants) and soil Microbiology Research Group (AEMREG), Department of Biochemistry and samples. Generally, reports of studies were more focused on Listeria monocytogenes Microbiology, University of Fort Hare, Private among other Listeria species. To this end, reports obtained from literature on the Mail Bag X1314, Alice 5700, South Africa. Email:
[email protected] method of identification of Listeria were mostly based on serological, classical bio- chemical methods and the principle of aesculin hydrolysis, usually characterized by Funding information The World Academy of Sciences, Grant/Award black coloration on selective media for Listeria.