Unusual food-borne pathogens - Listeria monocytogenes, Aeromonas, Plesiomonas, and Edwardsiella species

A number of bacterial genera have been implicated to cause or are proven ag ents of food-borne disease that are not always traditionally sought in labo ratory workups for food-borne pathogens. These include Listeria monocytogen es, an emerging cause of food-borne disease, and several other genera (Aero monas, Plesiomonas, and Edwardsiella) whose role in such infections is more controversial. Identification of such genera as causative agents of food-b orne disease requires recognition of epidemiologic settings where they may be found, use of specialized enrichment broths and selective media to recov er them, and appropriate typing procedures to link human and food-related i solates to one another.