Y. enterocolitica

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Scanning electron microscope image of Yersinia enterocolitica. From:http://www.nbbcfood.info/foodmatters/foodsafetyatoz/images/30fsmyersinia.jpg




NCBI: [1] Genome: [2]


Yersinia enterocolitica is a Gram negative coccobacillus-shaped, facultative anaerobe that is motile at temperatures ranging from 22 to 30°C. This bacterium is not part of the human microbiota, but has been isolated from clinical specimens along with many other animals including pigs, cattle, birds, and domestic animals [7]. Y. enterocolitica is psychrotrophic meaning it can flourish in lower temperatures, even below 4°C, meaning it can survive freezing and in frozen foods for a long period [5]. There are several different types of Yersinia enterocolitica classified by the surface antigens they share and further categorized according to which O-antigen they express on their surface. Only certain types of this bacterium are human pathogens. Infections from Yersinia enterocolitica are common year-round, but have an optimum infection period in fall and winter. Certain types of infection occur in different geographical areas, such as type O:3 and O:9 are responsible for outbreaks in Europe, while type O:8 is found in the United States, and O:5 and O:27 are found in Canada and Japan [8]. Yersinia enterocolitica is a common cause of food-borne gastrointestinal disease in moderate and subtropical climates around the world. An infection may present itself as enteritis, terminal ileitis, pseudo appendicitis, or mesenteric lyphadenitis, which is inflammation of the mesenteric lymph nodes [9]. As a zoonotic pathogen,Y. enterocolitica can infect the host after ingestion of contaminated food or water. Although host gastric acid act as a substantial barrier to prevent infection from the pathogen, Y. enterocolitica utilizes plasmids during pathogenesis to overcome this barrier. These plasmids include an outer membrane protein, YadA, that is used for adhesion and can resist phagocytosis by host cell with the help of Yops proteins [5]. Yersiniosis, a disease caused by this microorganism, has symptoms including abdominal pain, fever and diarrhea that occurs in 80% of cases. Patients usually recover within three weeks of infection without the use of antimicrobials, unless it becomes chronic entercolitis. This disease may last a few months, however, fatalities from Yersinia entercolitica are extremely rare. Infections caused by this pathogen can be easily prevented using proper sterilization techniques when handling food and practicing proper hygiene, as well as avoiding raw milk or undercooked pork products [5].



Yersinia enterocolitica is found in meats (pork, beef, lamb, ect.), fish, and raw milk. Exact reason for food contamination is unknown [2]. Human-to-human transmission is rare, however, incidences have been observed and reported. It is thought that an infected person suffering from diarrheal symptoms will transmit the disease to others if proper hand washing techniques are not followed [4]. Yersinia enterocolitica infection results in yersiniosis—a zoonotic disease that occurs in humans, cattle deer, birds and pigs [2]. Only a few strains cause infection in humans, and children are infected more often than adults. However, there are extreme cases in which Y. enterocolitica has been transmitted via blood transfusions. In such cases, transfusion acquired septicemia usually results from the infected blood serum [4]. There are over 60 serotypes for Yersinia enterocolitica . The serotypes pathogenic to humans are O:3, O:5,27, O:8, O:9, and O:13 [1,2].


Infectious dose, incubation, and colonization

According to the CDC, the infectious dose of Yersinia enterocolitica is currently unknown, however, the FDA estimates it is between 104 to 106 organisms. The infectious does may depend on the strain and host factors. It takes a lower dose of organisms to cause yersiniosis in young children and the elderly, who have weakened immune systems, compared to a healthy adult's immune system [5]. Illness takes place between 24 and 48 hours after ingestion [3]. Illness typically presents as diarrhea—sometimes bloody—low-grade fever, abdominal pain and vomiting, which is present in 15%-40% of cases [1]. Yersiniosis is a less common infection because most food processing techniques eliminate the risk of infection [3]. Y. enterocolitica efficiently colonizes the small intestine. After entering the host, bacteria adhere to the lumen and invade the epithelial lining, eventually going to the Peyer Patches where the microorganism proliferates [1]. Y. enterocolitica colonization requires this transfer of the bacteria across the epithelial tissue barrier.

Virulence Factors

There are 3 invasive proteins—Ail, YadA and invasin that are produced by Yersinia entercolitica [1]. These proteins promote adherence and invasion of microfold cells, which are found in the follicle-associated epithelium of Peyer's patches. Microfold cells, or M cells, are a type of antigen-sampling intestinal epithelial cells.


The toxin Yst including the genes ystA and ystB in the organism is a membrane-acting virulence factor. It is a heat-stable enterotoxin that is important in causing diarrhea in the host, however it is only present in virulent strains of Y. enterocolitica . It stimulates the cGMP synthesis in the intestinal lining, which leads to an overall effect of fluid loss and lack of fluid absorption [6]. The enterotoxin produced by Y. enterocolitica is similar to E. coli . Nevertheless, the enterotoxin only plays a minor role in pathogenesis, because diarrheal symptoms have been observed with the absence of enterotoxin formation [1] . The outer membrane antigens are associated with bacterial resistance to opsonization and neutrophil phagocytosis [1].

Iron and pathogenicity



The most susceptible populations to Y. enterocolitica are small children, immuno-suppressed, and the elderly [3] . 75% of patients are between the age of 5-15 years [1]. Most isolates of the disease are type O:3 and O:9 serotypes in Canada and Europe. In the US it is estimated that approximately 5% of bacterial enteric infections for children under the age of 5.The CDC claims 17,000 cases annually in the United States [2]. The disease is much more common in Northern Europe, Scandinavia, and Japan.

Clinical Features

Yersinia enterocolitica normally causes diarrhea in all manifestations of the infection, with some severe cases having blood in the stools [1]. Aside from diarrhea the disease may present differently when comparing adult and adolescent cases. Pediatric cases are characterized by fever, abdominal pain and more commonly present with bloody diarrhea [3]. The most common presentation of Y. enterocolitica in children is enterocolitis. The symptoms include watery and mucoid diarrhea, fever and colicky abdominal pain, with blood and white blood cells in stools . Adults describe their symptoms as diarrhea, localized lower right quadrant abdominal pain, vomiting, and low-grade fever [1]. Often the infection will clear without the aid of antibiotics, but those that do not may display more severe side effects including: red or purple raised lesions known as erythema nodosum and joint pain commonly in the knees, wrists or ankles [2]. Erythema nodosum lesions appear 2-20 days after the onset of the infection and also resolve without medical treatment in about a month [1]. Lesions are more commonly seen in females and appear on the patient’s trunk and legs. Joint pain may manifest about a month after the onset of symptoms and cease after 1 to 6 months [2]. Septicemia, or bacteria in the blood, can occur in adults with predisposing conditions, such as diabetes mellitus, immune defect, alcoholism, thalassemia, sickle cell disease, or hemochromatosis. Septicemia can also cause metastatic infections including abscesses in the liver, spleen, kidneys and lungs [1].



There are numerous tests that can be used to diagnose a Yersinia enterocolitica infection. A stool culture is the best way to confirm the presence of the pathogen but can take two weeks since the onset of the disease for the culture result to come back positive [1]. Other tests include tube agglutination, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, radioimmunoassays, ultrasonography or computed tomography scanning imaging studies, colonoscopy, and joint aspiration in certain cases [1]. A vast majority of Y. enterocolitica infections will clear up on their own with good nutrition and hydration [1]. Severe or complicated infections can be treated with the antibiotics aminoglycosides, doxycycline, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, or fluoroquinolones [2].




Prevention of Yersinia enterocolitica infection is easy if one is aware of what to avoid. The most common mode of transmission is via poultry and livestock [1]. Thus, avoid raw or undercooked meats. Make sure that milk products are pasteurized before consumption. If raw meat must be handled, clean hands thoroughly to avoid cross-contamination. Beware of cross-contamination in the kitchen by cleaning all surfaces and appliances with soap and hot water. Animal feces may also be contaminated so dispose of all animal waste properly [1].

Host Immune Response

During the later stages of Yersinia infection, there are many clinical and histological signs of host response. The host immune response activates macrophages against the infection. Macrophage activation is dependent upon the number of cfu and the duration of the infection. The host immune response will produce multiple TLR ligands to activate the macrophages [10]. The release of the aforementioned ligands and macrophage activation will contribute to inflammation of intracellular contents. Induction of inflammation is a typical host immune response to enteric pathogens.


1. Medscape. http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/232343-overview

2. CDC. http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dbmd/diseaseinfo/yersinia_g.htm





7. Microbiology in Pictures. http://www.microbiologyinpictures.com/yersinia%20enterocolitica.html



