Yersinia enterocolitica and related species isolated from wildlife in New York State

Abstract

Fecal specimens for Yersinia screening were obtained from a variety of wild mammals, birds, reptiles, fish, and invertebrates throughout New York state. One specimen from each of 1,426 animals was examined. A total of 148 isolates of Yersinia enterocolitica and related species were obtained from 133 (9.3%) of the animals. Y. enterocolitica was isolated from 100 (7%) of the animals tested, including 81 (10%) of 812 mammals and 19 (3.3%) of 573 birds. Y. intermedia, Y.frederiksenii, and Y. kristensenii were isolated from 39 (2.7%), 5 (0.35%), and 4 (0.28%) animals, respectively. The 81 Y. enterocolitica isolates from mammals belonged to 15 serogroups and included three pathogens: two isolates of typical serogroup 0:8, the "American strain," one from a gray fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus) and one from a porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum); and one isolate of serogroup 0:3, bacteriophage type IXb, the "Canadian strain," from a gray fox. The most prevalent serogroups recovered from mammals were 0:6,31 (16 isolates) and 0:5,27 (6 isolates). The 19 isolates of Y. enterocolitica from birds belonged to nine serogroups and included one serogroup 0:6,31 isolate from a common grackle (Quiscalus quiscula) and two serogroup 0:5,27 isolates from great horned owls (Bubo virginianus).

Isolation of Pathogenic Yersiniae from Wild Animals in Bulgaria

“…Jerrett et al (1990) isolated Y. pseudotuberculosis serotypes 0:1, 0:2 and 0:3 from the chital deer and red deer. Yersinia enterocolitica was isolated from wild mammals and birds (Shayegani et al, 1986;Welsh et al, 1992). According to Nakano et al (1989), some rodents, such as wild animals, may serve as a natural reservoir of Y. enterocolitica and Y. pseudotuberculosis and they play an important role in the epidemiology of yersinioses.…”

Yersinia enterocolitica and related species isolated in the Pesaro and Urbino area (Italy) from 1981 to 1986

“…intermedia, their low prevalence (0.23% and 0.04% respectively) strongly suggests that these species are normal components of aquatic ecosystems (Brenner et a/. 1980;Ursing et al 1980), although they are occasionally isolated from foods, terrestrial animals and man (Bucci et al 1982;Brewer & Corbel 1983;Delmas & Vidon 1985;Agbonlahor 1986;Shayegani et al 1986;Walker & Gilmour 1986).…”

Zoonoses and potential zoonoses of bears

“…The overall seroprevalence of plague antibodies across five independent studies was 22% (117/523) and while bears generally exhibit no illness as a result of consuming plague‐infested rodents, they can play an important role as disease sentinels in areas with low levels of the bacteria in the rodent population (Barnes, ; Clover et al, ; Salkeld & Stapp, ). Another Yersinia species, Yersinia enterocolitica , has been reported in polar, brown and American black bears (O’Hara et al, ; Sasaki et al, ; Shayegani et al, ).…”