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
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web The Centers for Disease Control estimates that 1,600 people become infected with listeriosis every year and about 260 die. 
Orlando Mayorquin, USA TODAY, 23 Aug. 2022 Nearly 95% of people with listeriosis — the disease the bacteria causes— require hospitalization, according to the CDC. Aria Bendix, NBC News, 5 July 2022 Epicurean Butter announced in its recall Friday that its frozen dill supplier warned of Listeria monocytogenes contamination that could lead to listeriosis. Orlando Mayorquin, USA TODAY, 23 Aug. 2022 The bacteria can infect people, leading to short-term symptoms that aren’t specific to listeriosis. Chris Smith, BGR, 4 July 2022 Listeria, according to the CDC, can cause severe illness known as invasive listeriosis when bacteria spread beyond the gut to other parts of the body. Laura Finaldi, USA TODAY, 7 July 2022 Invasive listeriosis doesn’t happen with all Listeria infectious but is more likely to happen in young children, older adults, and anyone else with a weaker immune system. Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes, 2 July 2022 The bacteria can lead to listeriosis, which can be fatal to certain people. Chris Smith, BGR, 17 May 2022 That’s not the only reason to shield produce from germs—some microorganisms are also the sources of illnesses, including listeriosis and Escherichia coli poisoning. Sam Jones, Scientific American, 24 June 2022 See More
Orlando Mayorquin, USA TODAY, 23 Aug. 2022 Nearly 95% of people with listeriosis — the disease the bacteria causes— require hospitalization, according to the CDC. Aria Bendix, NBC News, 5 July 2022 Epicurean Butter announced in its recall Friday that its frozen dill supplier warned of Listeria monocytogenes contamination that could lead to listeriosis. Orlando Mayorquin, USA TODAY, 23 Aug. 2022 The bacteria can infect people, leading to short-term symptoms that aren’t specific to listeriosis. Chris Smith, BGR, 4 July 2022 Listeria, according to the CDC, can cause severe illness known as invasive listeriosis when bacteria spread beyond the gut to other parts of the body. Laura Finaldi, USA TODAY, 7 July 2022 Invasive listeriosis doesn’t happen with all Listeria infectious but is more likely to happen in young children, older adults, and anyone else with a weaker immune system. Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes, 2 July 2022 The bacteria can lead to listeriosis, which can be fatal to certain people. Chris Smith, BGR, 17 May 2022 That’s not the only reason to shield produce from germs—some microorganisms are also the sources of illnesses, including listeriosis and Escherichia coli poisoning. Sam Jones, Scientific American, 24 June 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
New Latin, from Listeria, from Joseph Lister
First Known Use
1941, in the meaning defined above
Medical Definition
listeriosis
noun
lis·te·ri·o·sis (ˌ)lis-ˌtir-ē-ˈō-səs
variants also listerellosis
ˌlis-tə-rə-ˈlō-səs
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