STUDIES ON THE PATHOGENICITY OF YERSINIA-ENTEROCOLITICA AND YERSINIA-ENTEROCOLITICA-LIKE BACTERIA .1. ENTERO-TOXIN PRODUCTION AT 22-DEGREES-C AND 37-DEGREES-C BY ENVIRONMENTAL AND HUMAN ISOLATES FROM SCANDINAVIA

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  • 1 January 1980
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 88  (5) , 287-291
Abstract
Strains (412) of Y. enterocolitica and Y. enterocolitica-like bacteria from environmental and human sources were examined for their ability to produce enterotoxin at 22 and 37.degree. C using the infant mouse assay. Seventy-three strains were positive at 22.degree. C only. Another 28 strains were positive at 22 and 37.degree. C. Of these 28 strains, 26 were sucrose and esculin non-fermenting and all were Voges-Proskauer negative. All of these strains were isolated from non-human sources. All of 13 strains belonging to 0-serogroup 28 produced enterotoxin at 37.degree. C. Enterotoxin production at 22.degree. C is widespread in Y. enterocolitica with the highest prevalence among human clinical isolates. Enterotoxin production at 22 and 37.degree. C seems to be common in Y. kristensenii (sucrose non-fermenters). Enterotoxin production is apparently rare in Y. frederiksenii (rhamnose fermenters) and in Y. intermedia (rhamnose and melibiose fermenters).