listeriosis
noun
lis·te·ri·o·sis
li-ˌstir-ē-ˈō-səs 
plural listerioses
li-ˌstir-ē-ˈō-ˌsēz
: a serious encephalitic disease of a wide variety of animals that is caused by a bacterium (Listeria monocytogenes) and that in animals is often fatal but in humans is usually not fatal
Examples of listeriosis in a Sentence
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Consumption of food containing the bacteria can lead to listeriosis, an infection that is particularly harmful to pregnant women, people aged 65 or above, and people with weakened immune systems.
—
Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 12 Jan. 2025
Common symptoms of listeriosis include fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance and convulsions, sometimes preceded by diarrhea or other gastrointestinal symptoms.
—Greta Cross, USA TODAY, 2 Dec. 2024
Consequently, pregnant people are more vulnerable to developing infections such as listeriosis.
—Caroline C. Boyle, USA TODAY, 26 Oct. 2024
Most listeriosis infections are limited to the digestive system, with symptoms including diarrhea and vomiting developing within 24 hours of consuming contaminated food.
—Paul Du Quenoy, Newsweek, 1 Jan. 2025
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Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 12 Jan. 2025
Common symptoms of listeriosis include fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance and convulsions, sometimes preceded by diarrhea or other gastrointestinal symptoms.
—Greta Cross, USA TODAY, 2 Dec. 2024
Consequently, pregnant people are more vulnerable to developing infections such as listeriosis.
—Caroline C. Boyle, USA TODAY, 26 Oct. 2024
Most listeriosis infections are limited to the digestive system, with symptoms including diarrhea and vomiting developing within 24 hours of consuming contaminated food.
—Paul Du Quenoy, Newsweek, 1 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for listeriosis
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Cite this Entry
“Listeriosis.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/listeriosis. Accessed 6 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
listeriosis
noun
lis·te·ri·o·sis
(ˌ)lis-ˌtir-ē-ˈō-səs
variants
also listerellosis
plural listerioses also listerelloses
-ˌsēz
: a serious disease of animals and humans that is caused by a bacterium of the genus Listeria (L. monocytogenes), that in animals causes severe encephalitis accompanied by disordered movements and is often fatal, that is contracted by humans especially from contaminated food (as processed meats or unpasteurized milk or cheese), that in otherwise healthy people typically takes the form of a mild flu-like illness or has no noticeable symptoms, that in neonates, the elderly, and the immunocompromised often causes serious sometimes fatal illness with symptoms including meningitis and sepsis, and that in pregnant women usually causes only mild illness in the mother but often results in miscarriage, stillbirth, or premature birth see circling disease
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