Unusual Yersinia enterocolitica Isolates Not Associated with Mesenteric Lymphadenitis

Abstract

Thirteen Yersinia enterocolitica were recovered from a variety of clinical sources. Of these, only one was associated with mesenteric lymphadenitis and belonged to serotype 8. The 12 remaining strains were isolated from nonmesenteric sources and belonged to serotype 17. All strains exhibited the main characteristics of Y. enterocolitica which differentiated them from other Enterobacteriaceae, i.e., motility at 22 C but not at 37 C, positive urease and ornithine decarboxylase activities, and negative phenylalanine deaminase. These 12 strains differed, however, from other Y. enterocolitica previously described in the United States in that they fermented rhamnose and raffinose at 22 C, and failed to grow on Salmonella-Shigella and Hektoen-Enteric agars.

In vitro assessment of virulence in Yersinia enterocolitica and related species

“…Virulence-associated characteristics were independent of each other, in that expression of any one property did not necessarily imply expression of any other. Strains of Y. frederiksenii, Y. kristensenii, and Y. intermedia, although avirulent (7,8,21), expressed individual virulence-associated characteristics.…”

Alkali method for rapid recovery of Yersinia enterocolitica and Yersinia pseudotuberculosis from foods

“…Of 54 isolates, 43 (80%) were recovered by the alkali method, and 11 (20%) were recovered by the saline method. Biochemical reactions for one-half of the naturally contaminated food isolates were similar to those of isolates recovered from humans, as described by Bottone et al (3), and to those of isolates from foods, as described by Hanna et al (4). DISCUSSION This study shows that recovery of Yersinia from food is complicated by a technical difficulty rather than by a nutritional requirement of Yersinia sp.…”

Yersinia Enterocolitica and Yesinia Enterocolitica‐like Species: Their Pathogenicity and Significance in Foods

“…The usual practice includes performing biochemical tests at 35" C to accommodate the routine clinical laboratory (Feeley et al 1976;Highsmith et al 1977a). Bottone (1974) observed temperature-dependent physiological characters among 12 "unusual isolates" that are now classified as Y. intermedia. Prompt fermentation of rhamnose and raffinose and utilization of citrate were among the characteristics displayed at 22" C and either Brenner et al (1976) noted the comments made by several investigators regarding the difficulty of interpreting certain biochemical reactions given by Y. enterocolitica at 37°C.…”

“…In Belgium, where Y. enterocolitica strains of serotypes 0:3 and 0:9 are the most common clinical strains, S S agar is found to be superior to MacConkey agar (Wauters 1973;Van Noyen et al 1980). On the other hand, strains of Y. intermedia and Y. frederiksenii were shown to be sensitive to S S and Hektoen agars (Bottone 1977;Bottone et al 1974;Ursing et al 1980), but Bismuth Sulfite (BS) has been especially productive in isolating these Yersinia species . However, other investigators have cautioned that BS agar and other media containing brilliant green may be inhibitory to certian strains of Y. enterocolitica (Highsmith et al 1977a;Schiemann 1979a).…”