Characteristics of Yersinia enterocolitica and related species isolated from human, animal, and environmental sources

Abstract

During a 4-year period, 4,448 human, animal, and environmental samples collected in New York State were tested for the presence of Yersinia enterocolitica or related species. A total of 339 isolates were identified as Yersinia and characterized according to source, species, biogroup, serogroup, and, in some instances, phage type. Four new biogroups of Y. intermedia were characterized. Of 149 human isolates, 120 (80.5%) were identified as Y. enterocolitica, and 29 were identified as either Y. intermedia (12.1%), Y. frederiksenii (5.4%), or Y. kristensenii (2.0%). Of the other 190 isolates, recovered from animals and the environment, 54 (28.4%) were Y. enterocolitica and 136 were either Y. intermedia (62.6%), Y. frederiksenii (4.7%), Y. kristensenii (3.7%), or an undescribed Yersinia species (0.5%). Two established human pathogenic strains of Y. enterocolitica were recovered: 59 isolates (37 from an outbreak) of "American strain" (serogroup 0:8, biogroups Nil6hn 2, Wauters 1, and Knapp and Thal 2, phage type X,) and 11 isolates of "Canadian strain" (serogroup 0:3, biogroups Nilehn 4, Wauters 4, and Knapp and Thal 1, phage type IXb). This was the first documented isolation of the Canadian strain in the United States. Isolates of other strains implicated in human disease (serogroups 0:4,33, 0:5, 0:6,31, 0:7,8, and 0:8) were also recovered from both human and nonhuman sources.

Pathogenicity ofYersinia enterocoliticabiotype 1A

“…They are also frequently isolated from foods, including various vegetables and animal products, such as pork, poultry, packaged meat, seafoods, raw milk and pasteurised dairy products [16,54^60]. Biotype 1A yersiniae are also found in a vast array of animals, including birds, ¢sh, various insects, frogs and a wide range of mammals, including cattle, sheep, pigs and rodents [7,16,61]. In most cases, animals that harbour biotype 1A strains are asymptomatic, thus giving support to the concept that these bacteria are avirulent commensals.…”

Experimental Mixed Infection With Yersinia Enterocolitica and Listeria Monocytogenes in Guinea Pigs

“…They are unified by two common properties: to entry into the host through the gastrointestinal tract and to demonstrate a definite temperature tolerance providing them with the possibility to overcome the extreme conditions of environment, foods etc. (SHAYEGANI et al, 1981;BHADUIU et al, 1995;FARBER and PETERKIN, 1991). L. monocytogenes and Y. enterocolitica cells grow well at refrigerator temperatures (4-10°C) and there is strong indirect evidence that food is an important source of human infection with both pathogens (KAPPERUD, 1991).…”

Characterization of Yersinia enterocolitica strains potentially virulent for humans and animals in river water

“…Yersinia enterocolitica is a ubiquitous micro-organism which is isolated from water in many countries around the world, mainly in colder countries of Europe and North America, and as well in tropical regions (Meadows and Snudden 1981;Shayegani et al 1981;Zamora and Enriquez 1987;Sandery et al 1996;Singh et al 2000Singh et al , 2003Falcao et al 2004;Cheyne et al 2010;Campioni and Falcao 2014). The micro-organism has been detected in surface waters, including lakes, ponds, streams and rivers, as well as in water wells and sewer pipes (Zamora and Enriquez 1987;Sandery et al 1996;Singh et al 2003;Falcao et al 2004).…”

“…Meadows and Snudden (1981) identified and analysed the microorganism in 8Á25% of samples from the sewage-polluted Chippewa River in the north. Shayegani et al (1981) received 15Á6% of positive samples from the water collected from different locations across the US. In the study of Singh et al (2003), this bacteria was isolated from 2.8% samples of groundwater, 12.3% of waste water and 9% of river water.…”