History of Listeria in Timeline

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: October 3, 2025

Listeria is a genus of Gram-positive, rod-shaped bacteria, consisting of 28 identified species as of 2024. These bacteria are facultatively anaerobic and do not produce endospores. They are intracellular parasites in mammals, and the genus is named after Joseph Lister, a pioneer of sterile surgery.

1926: Discovery of L. monocytogenes

In 1926, L. monocytogenes was discovered by Murray, Webb & Swann.

1929: First Documented Human Case of Listeriosis

In 1929, the first documented human case of listeriosis was described by the Danish physician Aage Nyfeldt.

1940: L. monocytogenes Pirie

In 1940, L. monocytogenes was defined by Pirie.

1957: Classification of Listeria in Bergey's Manual

In 1957, the genus Listeria was classified in the family Corynebacteriaceae through the seventh edition of Bergey's Manual of Systematic Bacteriology.

1966: Discovery of L. grayi

In 1966, L. grayi was discovered by Errebo, Larsen & Seeliger.

1979: Discovery of L. innocua

In 1979, L. innocua was discovered by Seeliger & Schoofs.

1983: L. innocua ex Seeliger

In 1983, L. innocua was defined by Seeliger.

1983: Discovery of L. seeligeri

In 1983, L. seeligeri was discovered by Rocourt & Grimont.

1984: Discovery of L. ivanovii

In 1984, L. ivanovii was discovered by Seeliger et al.

1992: "L. londonensis" Boerlin et al.

In 1992, "L. londonensis" was discovered by Boerlin et al.

2004: Placement in Listeriaceae Family

In 2004, the genus Listeria was placed in the newly created family Listeriaceae.

2008: Listeria Outbreak in Canada

In 2008, cold-cut meats were implicated in a Listeria outbreak in Canada.

2010: "P. rocourtiae" Leclercq et al.

In 2010, "P. rocourtiae" was discovered by Leclercq et al.

2010: Discovery of L. marthii

In 2010, L. marthii was discovered by Graves et al.

2011: Listeriosis Outbreak from Jensen Farms in Colorado

In 2011, improperly handled cantaloupe was implicated in the outbreak of listeriosis from Jensen Farms in Colorado.

2013: "P. weihenstephanensis" Lang Halter et al.

In 2013, "P. weihenstephanensis" was discovered by Lang Halter et al.

2013: Discovery of L. fleischmannii

In 2013, L. fleischmannii was discovered by Bertsch et al.

2014: "P. cornellensis" Den Bakker et al.

In 2014, "P. cornellensis" was discovered by Den Bakker et al.

2014: Discovery of L. aquatica

In 2014, L. aquatica was discovered by Den Bakker et al.

2015: "P. booriae" Weller et al.

In 2015, "P. booriae" was discovered by Weller et al.

2016: "P. booriae" Orsi & Wiedmann

In 2016, "P. booriae" was also recognized by Orsi & Wiedmann.

2016: "P. weihenstephanensis" Orsi & Wiedmann

In 2016, "P. weihenstephanensis" was also recognized by Orsi & Wiedmann.

2018: Discovery of L. costaricensis

In 2018, L. costaricensis" was discovered by Núñez-Montero et al.

2018: Listeriosis Outbreak in Australia

In early 2018, improperly handled cantaloupe was implicated in a similar listeriosis outbreak across eastern Australia.

September 2019: Listeria Outbreaks in the Netherlands

In September 2019, three deaths and a miscarriage were reported in the Netherlands after the consumption of listeria-infected deli meats produced by Offerman.