Yersinia enterocolitica: the charisma continues

Abstract

Yersinia enterocolitica, a gram-negative coccobacillus, comprises a heterogeneous group of bacterial strains recovered from animal and environmental reservoirs. The majority of human pathogenic strains are found among distinct serogroups (e.g. O:3, O:5,27, O:8, O:9) and contain both chromosome- and plasmid (60 to 75 kb)-mediated virulence factors that are absent in "avirulent" strains. While Y. enterocolitica is primarily a gastrointestinal tract pathogen, it may produce extraintestinal infections in hosts with underlying predisposing factors. Postinfection sequelae include arthritis and erythema nodosum, which are seen mainly in Europe among patients with serogroups O:3 and O:9 infection and HLA-B27 antigen. Y. enterocolitica is acquired through the oral route and is epidemiologically linked to porcine sources. Bacteremia is prominent in the setting of immunosuppression or in patients with iron overload or those being treated with desferrioxamine. metastatic foci following bacteremia are common and often involve the liver and spleen. Of particular concern is blood transfusion-related bacteremia. Evidence has accumulated substantiating the role of Y. enterocolitica as a food-borne pathogen that has caused six major outbreaks in the United States. The diagnosis of Y. enterocolitica gastroenteritis is best achieved through isolation of the bacterium on routine or selective bacteriologic media. When necessary, serogrouping, biogrouping, and assessment for plasmid-encoded virulence traits may aid in distinguishing virulent from "avirulent" strains. Epidemiologically, outside of identified food-borne outbreaks, the source (reservoir) of Y. enterocolitica in sporadic cases is speculative. Therefore, prevention and control measures are difficult to institute.

Experimental Infection of Mice with Yersinia enterocolitica Serotype O9 by Oral and Parenteral Routes: Spreading and Enterotropism of Virulent Yersiniae

“…Yersinia enterocolitica is a well-recognized human enteropathogen that may cause diarrhea, terminal ileitis, and other intestinal infection symptoms, and non-septic sequealae such as reactive arthritis [6,8,36]. Only a limited number of Y. enterocolitica serotypes are thought to be pathogenic [31].…”

Foodborne Infections and Intoxications Associated with International Travel

“…Infection is acquired by the consumption of contaminated food and water (Keet, 1974;Black et al, 1978). Y. enterocolitica preferentially binds to M cells of the Peyer's patches, penetrates these cells and is transported across the epithelial barrier (Autenrieth and Firsching, 1996;Bottone, 1997;Schulte et al, 2000). The bacteria become internalized by macrophages, replicate, and are transported to mesenteric lymph nodes, liver, and spleen (Tabrizi and Robins-Browne, 1992;Viboud and Bliska, 2005).…”

Bacterial Cell Surface Structures in Yersinia enterocolitica

“…Certain bio-/serotype combinations predominantly contain virulent strains that cause yersiniosis both in animals and humans. Representatives of Y. enterocolitica are widespread in nature, where they can be found in aquatic environments, soil and gastrointestinal tracts of many higher vertebrates, especially pigs (Bottone 1997(Bottone , 1999.…”