Analysis of surveillance results of Yersinia enterocolitica from 2004 to 2005 in Haian County,Jiangsu Province

Objective This analysis was made to gain an insight into the situation of Yersinia enterocolitica contamination in poultry and domestic animal meats and the carrier population. Methods Stool samples from animals and diarrheal patients and samples of flies and chilled poultry and domestic animal meats were collected and cultured to identify Yersinia enterocolitica, on which serological typing and detection of virulence gene were conducted. Results 160 animal stool samples were found to be Yersinia enterocolitica positive with a positive rate of 17.19%(160/931), pigs having a higher carrier rate than other animals. There were 29 serum types identified in the 151 strains of Yersinia enterocolitica, with O∶16,29、O∶6,30, O∶5, O:7,8, O∶12,26, O∶4,33 and O:8 predominant. The virulence gene in all the typed Yersinia enterocolitica were negative except a positive finding in 61 ystB. Conclusion Yersinia enterocolitica carriers are common in domestic animals and poultry in Haian county. The majority of the strains are not pathogenic and less threatening to human being.