This Article Full Text (PDF) A correction has been published Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Copyright Information Books from ASM Press MicrobeWorld Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Farmer, J J Articles by Wachsmuth, I K Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Farmer, J J, 3rd Articles by Wachsmuth, I K

Pyrazinamidase, CR-MOX agar, salicin fermentation-esculin hydrolysis, and D-xylose fermentation for identifying pathogenic serotypes of Yersinia enterocolitica.

Enteric Diseases Laboratory Section, Centers for Disease Control, Atlanta, Georgia 30333.

ABSTRACT

We evaluated several simple laboratory tests that have been used to identify pathogenic serotypes of Yersinia enterocolitica or to indicate the pathogenic potential of individual strains. A total of 100 strains of Y. enterocolitica were studied, including 25 isolated during five outbreak investigations, 63 from sporadic cases, and 12 from stock cultures. The pyrazinamidase test, which does not depend on the Yersinia virulence plasmid, correctly identified 60 of 63 (95% sensitivity) strains of pathogenic serotypes and 34 of 37 (92% specificity) strains of nonpathogenic serotypes. Salicin fermentation-esculin hydrolysis (25 degrees C, 48 h) correctly identified all 63 (100% sensitivity) strains of the pathogenic serotypes and 34 of 37 (92% specificity) strains of the nonpathogenic serotypes. The results of the pyrazinamidase and salicin-esculin tests disagreed for only 7 of the 100 strains of Y. enterocolitica, and these would require additional testing. Congo red-magnesium oxalate (CR-MOX) agar determines Congo red dye uptake and calcium-dependent growth at 36 degrees C, and small red colonies are present only if the strain contains the Yersinia virulence plasmid. This test has proven to be extremely useful for freshly isolated cultures, but only 15 of 62 strains of pathogenic serotypes that had been stored for 1 to 10 years were CR-MOX positive. None of the 16 strains of Y. enterocolitica serotype O3 fermented D-xylose, so this test easily differentiated strains of this serotype, which now appears to be the most common in the United States. Although antisera that can actually be used to serotype strains of Y. enterocolitica are not readily available, the four simple tests described above can be used to screen for pathogenic serotypes.

This article has been cited by other articles:

• Falcao, J. P., Falcao, D. P., Pitondo-Silva, A., Malaspina, A. C., Brocchi, M. (2006). Molecular typing and virulence markers of Yersinia enterocolitica strains from human, animal and food origins isolated between 1968 and 2000 in Brazil.. J Med Microbiol 55: 1539-1548 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Thisted Lambertz, S., Danielsson-Tham, M.-L. (2005). Identification and Characterization of Pathogenic Yersinia enterocolitica Isolates by PCR and Pulsed-Field Gel Electrophoresis. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 71: 3674-3681 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Thoerner, P., Bin Kingombe, C. I., Bogli-Stuber, K., Bissig-Choisat, B., Wassenaar, T. M., Frey, J., Jemmi, T. (2003). PCR Detection of Virulence Genes in Yersinia enterocolitica and Yersinia pseudotuberculosis and Investigation of Virulence Gene Distribution. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 69: 1810-1816 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Guiyoule, A., Guinet, F., Martin, L., Benoit, C., Desplaces, N., Carniel, E. (1998). Phenotypic and Genotypic Characterization of Virulent Yersinia enterocolitica Strains Unable To Ferment Sucrose. J. Clin. Microbiol. 36: 2732-2734 [Abstract] [Full Text]