Medycyna Wet. 65 (5), 296-300, 2009
full text
| Truszczyński M. |
| Yersinia enterocolitica – an important zoonotic human pathogen |
| Having in mind the growing importance of Yersinia enterocolitica as a zoonotic pathogen, data essential for veterinary surgeons were reviewed. They included properties of this microorganism and media for its cultivation, specifically adapted for isolation and identification, such as VYE agar and CIN agar. The wide distribution of Y. enterocolitica in nature, in aquatic and animal reservoirs, containing strains pathogenic for humans, was underlined. The mechanism of pathogenicity of Y. enterocolitica, being very similar to that of opportunistic, facultativly pathogenic enteric bacteria - such as Salmonella, Campylobacter spp. and verotoxin-producing Escherichia coli strains - was characterized. The association of Y. enterocolitica biogroups and serogroups, including geographic and ecologic distribution, with the possibility of causing disease in humans was discussed. It was stated that strains belonging to serogroups O:3, O:8 and O:9 are associated especially with the pig and are a major cause of foodborn diseases of humans. In addition Y. enterocolitica chromosomal and plasmid-encoded virulence determinants were characterized including causing attachment and invasion of this microorganism in the intestines as well as fluid secretion with the clinical consequence of diarrhea. Attemps to eliminate Y. enterocolitica from pig herds were recommended as an important action in the prophylaxis of human yersiniosis. |
| Keywords: Yersinia enterocolitica, reservoirs, pathogenicity, prophylaxis |