STUDIES ON THE PATHOGENICITY OF YERSINIA-ENTEROCOLITICA AND YERSINIA-ENTEROCOLITICA-LIKE BACTERIA .2. INTERACTION WITH HELA-CELLS AMONG ENVIRONMENTAL AND HUMAN ISOLATES FROM SCANDINAVIA

  • 1 January 1980
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 88  (5) , 293-297
Abstract
Strains (412) of Y. enterocolitica and Y. enterocolitica-like bacteria were examined for their ability to interact with HeLa (human cervical carcinoma) cell monolayers. Of 331 isolates from environmental sources in Scandinavia, only 3 strains biochemically classified as Y. pseudotuberculosis were invasive for HeLa cells. Invasiveness was indicated for 1 strain (O-serogroup 2) from a diseased goat. Another 8 strains adhered firmly to the cell patients with gastroenteritis were invasive. Seven strains of O-serogroup 3 from small rodents and water were non-invasive. Among 33 reference strains representing Y. enterocolitica O-serogroup 1-34, invasiveness was indicated for strains with known pathogenicity (O-serogroup 1, 2, 3, 5-27, 8, 9). Some strains belonging to O-serogroups with uncertain clinical significance were invasive for HeLa cells. A close correlation between invasiveness and enterotoxin production was demonstrated for the 22 human clinical isolates belonging to O-serogroup 3.