Yersiniaspp. in Wild Rodents and Shrews in Finland

Pathological findings in raccoon dogs (Nyctereutes procyonoides) in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany

Raccoon dogs (Nyctereutes procyonoides) originated from East Asia and are listed as invasive alien species of Union concern in the European Union. Apart from their potential negative impact on native fauna as predators and competitors, they are discussed as reservoirs and vectors for various infectious diseases. Between 2021 and 2022, comprehensive post-mortem examinations of 110 raccoon dogs were performed as part of a health and risk assessment study of selected invasive alien species in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. Parasitic infections, often accompanied by eosinophilic and/or granulomatous inflammation, were one of the most common and significant findings. In total, 64% animals had an ectoparasitosis and up to 76% an endoparasitosis. Alaria alata and Trichinella spp were the most relevant endoparasite species found. Eggs of A. alata were detected in 30% of faecal samples, while the prevalence of Trichinella spp in muscle samples was 0.9%. Influenza A virus, canine distemper virus, rustrela virus, Borna disease virus 1 and severe acute respiratory syndrome corona virus 2 were not detected. Carnivore protoparvovirus 1 was detected with a prevalence of 3%, but was not associated with pathognomonic lesions. In general, most of the pathological findings were of minor significance regardless of whether pathogens were detected or not, and therefore did not appear to affect the overall health status of the examined animals. Our study shows that raccoon dogs may contribute to the spread and persistence of certain pathogens by acting as carriers of infectious diseases. This underpins the need to further investigate the risk they pose to endemic European wildlife, livestock and human health.

Occurrence and Monitoring of the Zoonotic Pathogen Yersinia pseudotuberculosis in Various Zoo Animal Species

Infections with the zoonotic pathogen Yersinia (Y.) pseudotuberculosis are commonly causing clinical diseases and acute deaths in various mammal and bird species in zoos. These findings prompted us to conduct a targeted study that included animals of 18 German and 1 Swiss zoo that had been affected by the pathogen previously. This study provides a comprehensive overview of susceptible zoo animal species, clinical signs, therapies, antimicrobial resistance, pathogen monitoring, and prophylactic measures. In addition, fecal samples from species with documented infections and organ samples from deceased mammals and birds from two of the participating zoos, the urban zoo Wilhelma and the rural Opel Zoo, were examined for Y. pseudotuberculosis using both direct plating and enrichment. The overall prevalence of Y. pseudotuberculosis was 3.1% at the Opel Zoo and 1.3% at the Wilhelma. Fecal samples yielded positive results in 1.4% of the tested samples from the Opel Zoo but none from the Wilhelma. Among carcasses, 16.7% and 1.7% tested positive at the Opel Zoo and the Wilhelma, respectively (p = 0.006). Y. pseudotuberculosis was significantly more frequently isolated during the cold season (p = 0.002). Affected animals often died suddenly, displaying no or only non-specific clinical signs, but postmortem examinations revealed septicemia with multiple bacterial organ abscesses. Rodents, ruminants, primates, and Piciformes were the most commonly affected orders. Considering the zoonotic potential of Y. pseudotuberculosis, this research underscores the importance of investigations in zoos in accordance with the targets of the One Health approach.

Yersinia pseudotuberculosis in Non-Domesticated Mammals and Birds in Captivity

Yersinia pseudotuberculosis causes yersiniosis in a wide range of mammalian and avian taxa worldwide. This review aims to provide an overview of the current literature on yersiniosis in non-domesticated mammals and birds in captivity. Data on the prevalence of Y. pseudotuberculosis in captive populations are scarce. Transmission is primarily via the fecal-oral route, with wild rodents and birds as primary reservoirs. Predisposing factors to yersiniosis include young age, inclement weather, stress, and genetic factors. Symptoms are often non-specific, with sudden death occurring frequently, particularly in avian species. Gross pathological examination typically reveals multiple white-yellow foci in visceral organs, while histopathology demonstrates necrosis with central bacterial colonies. Ante-mortem diagnosis can be challenging as bacterial culture and isolation from fecal samples are often hindered by intermittent excretion and competition with other gastrointestinal flora. Although killed and subunit vaccine formulations have demonstrated limited protective efficacy, live attenuated strains may hold greater promise for inducing more robust and durable immunity. Y. pseudotuberculosis remains a significant threat to animal health, highlighting the need for faster and more reliable diagnostic techniques and the development of more effective treatment and prophylactic strategies.

Pathogenicity and virulence of Yersinia

The genus Yersinia includes human, animal, insect, and plant pathogens as well as many symbionts and harmless bacteria. Within this genus are Yersinia enterocolitica and the Yersinia pseudotuberculosis complex, with four human pathogenic species that are highly related at the genomic level including the causative agent of plague, Yersinia pestis. Extensive laboratory, field work, and clinical research have been conducted to understand the underlying pathogenesis and zoonotic transmission of these pathogens. There are presently more than 500 whole genome sequences from which an evolutionary footprint can be developed that details shared and unique virulence properties. Whereas the virulence of Y. pestis now seems in apparent homoeostasis within its flea transmission cycle, substantial evolutionary changes that affect transmission and disease severity continue to ndergo apparent selective pressure within the other Yersiniae that cause intestinal diseases. In this review, we will summarize the present understanding of the virulence and pathogenesis of Yersinia, highlighting shared mechanisms of virulence and the differences that determine the infection niche and disease severity.

Survey on the Occurrence of Zoonotic Bacterial Pathogens in the Feces of Wolves (Canis lupus italicus) Collected in a Protected Area in Central Italy

Previous investigations have explored the involvement of wolves in parasitic and viral diseases, but data on the zoonotic bacteria are limited. The aim of this study was to assess the occurrence of bacterial zoonotic agents in 16 wolf (Canis lupus italicus) fecal samples collected in a protected area in Central Italy. Campylobacter spp., Salmonella spp., Yersinia spp., Listeria monocytogenes, and Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli (STEC) were investigated by culture, while polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was employed to detect Coxiella burnetii, Mycobacterium spp., Brucella spp., and Francisella tularensis. The presence of Extended Spectrum β-Lactamase (ESBL)- and carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae was also evaluated, using selective isolation media and detection of antimicrobial resistance genes. All samples were negative for Campylobacter spp., Salmonella spp., C. burnetii, Mycobacterium spp., Brucella spp., F. tularensis, and carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae. One sample tested positive for Yersinia aldovae and three for Yersinia enterocolitica BT1A. One L. monocytogenes (serogroup IIa) and one STEC, carrying the stx1 gene, were isolated. Two ESBL isolates were detected: one Serratia fonticola, carrying blaFONA-3/6 gene, and one Escherichia coli, carrying blaCTX-M-1 gene. Both ESBL isolates were resistant to different antimicrobials and therefore classified as multi-drug-resistant. Our data suggest that wolves are potential carriers of zoonotic bacteria and may contribute to the environmental contamination through their feces.

Small mammals as carriers of zoonotic bacteria on pig and cattle farms - Prevalence and risk of exposure in an integrative approach

To prevent foodborne infections from pigs and cattle, the whole food chain must act to minimize the contamination of products, including biosecurity measures which prevent infections via feed and the environment in production farms. Rodents and other small mammals can be reservoirs of and key vectors for transmitting zoonotic bacteria and viruses to farm animals, through direct contact but more often through environmental contamination. In line with One Health concept, we integrated results from a sampling study of small mammals in farm environments and data from a capture-recapture experiment into a probabilistic model which quantifies the degree of environmental exposure of zoonotic bacteria by small mammals to farm premises. We investigated more than 1200 small mammals trapped in and around 38 swine and cattle farm premises in Finland in 2017/2018. Regardless of the farm type, the most common species caught were the yellow-necked mouse (Apodemus flavicollis), bank vole (Clethrionomys glareolus), and house mouse (Mus musculus). Of 554 intestine samples (each pooled from 1 to 10 individuals), 33% were positive for Campylobacter jejuni. Yersinia enterocolitica was detected in 8% of the pooled samples, on 21/38 farm premises. Findings of Salmonella and the Shiga-toxin producing Escherichia coli (STEC) were rare: the pathogens were detected in only single samples from four and six farm premises, respectively. The prevalence of Campylobacter, Salmonella, Yersinia and STEC in small mammal populations was estimated as 26%/13%, 1%/0%, 2%/3%, 1%/1%, respectively, in 2017/2018. The exposure probability within the experimental period of four weeks on farms was 17-60% for Campylobacter and 0-3% for Salmonella. The quantitative model is readily applicable to similar integrative studies. Our results indicate that small mammals increase the risk of exposure to zoonotic bacteria in animal production farms, thus increasing risks also for livestock and human health.

Foodborne pathogenic bacteria in wild European hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus)

BACKGROUND

European hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus) are widely distributed across Europe. They may play an important role by spreading zoonotic bacteria in the environment and to humans and animals. The aim of our work was to study the prevalence and characteristics of the most important foodborne bacterial pathogens in wild hedgehogs.

RESULTS

Faecal samples from 148 hospitalised wild hedgehogs originating from the Helsinki region in southern Finland were studied. Foodborne pathogens were detected in 60% of the hedgehogs by PCR. Listeria (26%) and STEC (26%) were the most common foodborne pathogens. Salmonella, Yersinia, and Campylobacter were detected in 18%, 16%, and 7% of hedgehogs, respectively. Salmonella and Yersinia were highly susceptible to the tested antimicrobials. Salmonella Enteritidis and Listeria monocytogenes 2a were the most common types found in hedgehogs. All S. Enteritidis belonged to one sequence type (ST11), forming four clusters of closely related isolates. L. monocytogenes was genetically more diverse than Salmonella, belonging to 11 STs. C. jejuni ST45 and ST677, Y. pseudotuberculosis O:1 of ST9 and ST42, and Y. enterocolitica O:9 of ST139 were also found.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study shows that wild European hedgehogs should be considered an important source of foodborne pathogens, and appropriate hygiene measures after any contact with hedgehogs and strict biosecurity around farms are therefore important.

Insights into the genomic traits of Yersinia frederiksenii, Yersinia intermedia and Yersinia kristensenii isolated from diverse sources in Brazil

Yersinia is an important genus comprising foodborne, zoonotic and pathogenic bacteria. On the other hand, species of the so-called group Yersinia enterocolitica-like are understudied and mostly characterized as non-pathogenic, despite of some reports of human infections. The present study aimed to provide genomic insights of Yersinia frederiksenii (YF), Yersinia intermedia (YI) and Yersinia kristensenii (YK) isolated worldwide. A total of 22 YF, 20 YI and 14 YK genomes were searched for antimicrobial resistance genes, plasmids, prophages, and virulence factors. Their phylogenomic relatedness was analyzed by Gegenees and core-genome multi-locus sequence typing. Beta-lactam resistance gene blaTEM-116 and five plasmids replicons (pYE854, ColRNAI, ColE10, Col(pHAD28) and IncN3) were detected in less than five genomes. A total of 59 prophages, 106 virulence markers of the Yersinia genus, associated to adherence, antiphagocytosis, exoenzymes, invasion, iron uptake, proteases, secretion systems and the O-antigen, and virulence factors associated to other 20 bacterial genera were detected. Phylogenomic analysis revealed high inter-species distinction and four highly diverse YF clusters. In conclusion, the results obtained through the analyses of YF, YI and YK genomes suggest the virulence potential of these strains due to the broad diversity and high frequency of prophages and virulence factors found. Phylogenetic analyses were able to correctly distinguish these closely related species and show the presence of different genetic subgroups. These data contributed for a better understanding of YF, YI and YK virulence-associated features and global genetic diversity, and reinforced the need for better characterization of these Y. enterocolitica-like species considered non-pathogenic.

Improvement of the EN ISO 10273:2017 method for the cultural detection of Yersinia enterocolitica in meat

The isolation of Yersinia enterocolitica from food is challenging, because the bacteria are readily overgrown by the concomitant microflora. In addition, thus far, no strictly selective medium for this species is available. The gold standard for cultural detection of Y. enterocolitica in food is described in the EN ISO 10273:2017. It includes a direct plating step that only enables the detection of large numbers of yersiniae. In addition, plating of the bacteria after selective enrichment for two days and a treatment with potassium hydroxide is mandatory. This approach may be critical, if the sample is highly contaminated with bacteria. Due to these limitations we improved the ISO procedure by adding a filtration and centrifugation step together with shortening the enrichment to only 6 h. This approach allowed a (i) more sensitive cultural detection than direct plating, (ii) limitation of background bacteria and (iii) saving of two days. The performance of the procedure was evaluated on minced meat samples, purchased at five supermarkets in Germany that were spiked with different numbers down to 4-6 cfu of a bioserotype B4/O:3 strain. Regardless of the background bacteria, the added strain could be isolated from every spiked sample. Moreover, biotype 1A isolates and other Yersinia species were recovered from some samples.

Enteropathogenic Yersinia with Public Health Relevance Found in Dogs and Cats in Finland

Yersiniosis is a common zoonotic enteric disease among humans, which has been linked to pigs and contaminated food, especially pork. The epidemiology of yersiniosis is still obscure, and studies on yersiniosis in pets are very scarce. In this study, we performed pheno- and genotypic characterisation of 50 Yersinia strains isolated from pets in Finland between 2012 and 2023. Y. enterocolitica 4/O:3/ST135, the most common type in human yersiniosis, was also the most common type (68%) found in clinical faecal samples in our study. Also, human pathogenic Y. enterocolitica 2/O:9/ST139 and Y. pseudotuberculosis O:1/ST9 and O:1/ST42 strains carrying all essential pathogenic genes were identified. Three Y. enterocolitica 4/O:3/ST9 strains were multi-drug-resistant and two of them were highly related, showing one allelic difference (AD) with core genome multi-locus sequence typing. Non-pathogenic, genotypically highly diverse Y. enterocolitica 1A strains, showing more than 1000 ADs and missing the essential virulence genes, were also recognised in dogs and cats. Our study demonstrates that pets can excrete human pathogenic Yersinia in their faeces and may serve as an infection source for human yersiniosis, especially in families with small children in close contact with their pets.

Yersinia enterocolitica Bacteremia Associated with a Ruptured Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm: A Case Report with Literature Review

Yersinia enterocolitica is a foodborne pathogen, mainly associated with disorders involving the gastrointestinal tract, including diarrhea, ileitis, and mesenteric lymphadenitis. Extraintestinal presentation is uncommon in healthy individuals, but bacteremia is reported in immunocompromised hosts. We present a 74-year-old male with Y. enterocolitica serogroup O:3 bacteremia who complicated to rupture of an abdominal aortic aneurysm. With the current case report, we aimed to emphasize the association of Y. enterocolitica bacteremia with abdominal aortic aneurysm rupture. Better surveillance is needed, not only to reduce morbidity and mortality but also to update current epidemiological data on the incidence of such associations.

Assessment of the Role of Free-living and Farmed Fallow Deer (Dama dama) as A Potential Source of Human Infection with Multiple-Drug-Resistant Strains of Yersinia enterocolitica and Yersinia pseudotuberculosis

Yersinia enterocolitica and Y. pseudotuberculosis are Gram-negative, facultative anaerobic bacteria that cause yersiniosis—one of the most important zoonotic diseases of the digestive tract. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of potentially human-pathogenic Y. enterocolitica and Y. pseudotuberculosis strains in free-living and farmed fallow deer, and to evaluate their sensitivity to chemotherapeutics. A total of 372 rectal swabs were analyzed, including 262 from free-living and 110 from farmed fallow deer. Due to the psychrophilic properties of Yersinia, two samples were collected from each animal. Seven Y. enterocolitica strains were isolated from free-living fallow deer, while two strains were isolated from farmed fallow deer. Yersinia pseudotuberculosis strains were not identified. All isolated Y. enterocolitica strains were ystB-positive, and phylogenetic analysis based on the nucleotide sequences of this gene revealed the presence of two phylogenetic groups. Yersinia enterocolitica strains isolated from fallow deer belonged to biotype 1A, and serotyping analysis demonstrated that the vast majority did not agglutinate with any diagnostic sera. All strains were multiple drug resistant and were not sensitive to at least four of the tested chemotherapeutics (amoxicillin with clavulanic acid, ampicillin, cefalexin, and streptomycin). One Y. enterocolitica strain isolated from a free-living animal was resistant to nine out of the 13 analyzed chemotherapeutics and was intermediately sensitive to the four remaining chemotherapeutics. The highest sensitivity was noted in case of ciprofloxacin (five strains) and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (three strains). Only one strain isolated from a free-living animal was sensitive to three out of the 13 examined antibiotics, whereas the remaining strains were sensitive to only one drug or were not sensitive to any of the chemotherapeutics used. The results of this study indicate that multiple drug-resistant Y. enterocolitica strains can be carried by free-living and farmed fallow deer. This observation gives serious cause for concern because the meat of fallow deer and other ruminants is often consumed semi-raw (steak) or raw (tartar steak).

Occurrence and Genetic Correlations of Yersinia spp. Isolated from Commensal Rodents in Northeastern Poland

Rodents can be a potential Yersinia spp. vector responsible for farm facilities contamination. The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of Yersinia spp. in commensal rodents found in the farms and fodder factory areas to characterize the obtained isolates and epidemiological risk. Intestinal samples were subjected to bacteriological, bioserotype, and PCR examination for virulence markers ail, ystA, ystB, and inv presence. Yersinia spp. was isolated from 43 out of 244 (17.6%) rodents (Apodemus agrarius n = 132, Mus musculus n = 102, Apodemus sylvaticus n = 8, Rattus norvegicus n = 2). Y. enterocolitica was isolated from 41 rodents (16.8%), and from one Y. pseudotuberculosis and one Y. kristensenii. In three cases, two Y. enterocolitica isolates were obtained from one rodent. All Y. enetrocolitica contained ystB and belonged to biotype 1A, considered as potentially pathogenic. One isolate additionally had the ail gene typical for pathogenic strains. The sequence analysis of the ystB, ail, and inv fragments showed a high similarity to those from clinical cases. The current study revealed a high prevalence of Y. enetrocolitica among commensal rodents, but the classification of all of Y. enterocolitica isolates into biotype 1A and the sporadic isolation of Y. pseudotuberculosis do not indicate a high epidemiological risk.

Evidence of Extensive Circulation of Yersinia enterocolitica in Rodents and Shrews in Natural Habitats from Retrospective and Perspective Studies in South Caucasus

Yersinia enterocolitica culture-positive rodents and shrews were reported in different territories across Georgia during 14 of 17 years of investigations conducted for the period of 1981-1997. In total, Y. enterocolitica was isolated from 2052 rodents (15 species) and 33 shrews. Most isolates were obtained from Microtus arvalis, Rattus norvegicus, Mus musculus, and Apodemus spp. During the prospective study (2017-2019), isolates of Yersinia-like bacteria were cultured from 53 rodents collected in four parts of Georgia. All the Yersinia-like isolates were confirmed as Y. enterocolitica based on the API 20E and the BD Phenix50 tests. Whole-genome (WG) sequencing of five rodents and one shrew strain of Y. enterocolitica revealed that they possessed a set of virulence genes characteristic of the potentially pathogenic strains of biogroup 1A. All isolates lacked distinguished virulence determinants for YstA, Ail, TccC, VirF, and virulence plasmid pYV but carried the genes for YstB, YmoA, HemPR-HmuVSTU, YaxAB, PhlA, PldA, ArsCBR, and a flagellar apparatus. One strain contained a gene highly homologous to heat-labile enterotoxin, a chain of E. coli, a function not previously described for Y. enterocolitica. The WG single-nucleotide polymorphism-based typing placed the isolates in four distinct phylogenetic clusters.

Elastic Light Scatter Pattern Analysis for the Expedited Detection of Yersinia Species in Pork Mince: Proof of Concept

Isolation of the pathogens Yersinia enterocolitica and Yersinia pseudotuberculosis from foods typically rely on slow (10–21 day) “cold enrichment” protocols before confirmed results are obtained. We describe an approach that yields results in 39 h that combines an alternative enrichment method with culture on a non-selective medium, and subsequent identification of suspect colonies using elastic light scatter (ELS) analysis. A prototype database of ELS profiles from five Yersinia species and six other bacterial genera found in pork mince was established, and used to compare similar profiles of colonies obtained from enrichment cultures from pork mince samples seeded with representative strains of Y. enterocolitica and Y. pseudotuberculosis. The presumptive identification by ELS using computerised or visual analyses of 83/90 colonies in these experiments as the target species was confirmed by partial 16S rDNA sequencing. In addition to seeded cultures, our method recovered two naturally occurring Yersinia strains. Our results indicate that modified enrichment combined with ELS is a promising new approach for expedited detection of foodborne pathogenic yersiniae.

The Role of Peridomestic Rodents as Reservoirs for Zoonotic Foodborne Pathogens

Although rodents are well-known reservoirs and vectors for a number of zoonoses, the functional role that peridomestic rodents serve in the amplification and transmission of foodborne pathogens is likely underappreciated. Clear links have been identified between commensal rodents and outbreaks of foodborne pathogens throughout Europe and Asia; however, comparatively little research has been devoted to studying this relationship in the United States. In particular, regional studies focused on specific rodent species and their foodborne pathogen reservoir status across the diverse agricultural landscapes of the United States are lacking. We posit that both native and invasive species of rodents associated with food-production pipelines are likely sources of seasonal outbreaks of foodborne pathogens throughout the United States. In this study, we review the evidence that identifies peridomestic rodents as reservoirs for foodborne pathogens, and we call for novel research focused on the metagenomic communities residing at the rodent-agriculture interface. Such data will likely result in the identification of new reservoirs for foodborne pathogens and species-specific demographic traits that might underlie seasonal enteric disease outbreaks. Moreover, we anticipate that a One Health metagenomic research approach will result in the discovery of new strains of zoonotic pathogens circulating in peridomestic rodents. Data resulting from such research efforts would directly inform and improve upon biosecurity efforts, ultimately serving to protect our food supply.

Comparative genomic insights into Yersinia hibernica - a commonly misidentified Yersinia enterocolitica-like organism

Food-associated outbreaks linked to enteropathogenic Yersinia enterocolitica are of concern to public health. Pigs and their meat are recognized risk factors for transmission of Y. enterocolitica. This study aimed to describe the comparative genomics of Y. enterocolitica along with a number of misclassified Yersinia isolates, now constituting the recently described Yersinia hibernica. The latter was originally cultured from an environmental sample taken at a pig slaughterhouse. Unique features were identified in the genome of Y. hibernica, including a novel integrative conjugative element (ICE), denoted as ICEYh-1 contained within a 255 kbp region of plasticity. In addition, a zebrafish embryo infection model was adapted and applied to assess the virulence potential among Yersinia isolates including Y. hibernica.

The Prevalence of Yersinia enterocolitica and Yersinia pseudotuberculosis in Small Wild Rodents in Poland

Rodents are a large group of mammals that can be carriers of zoonotic pathogens such as Yersinia strains that cause yersiniosis. The prevalence of Yersinia enterocolitica and Yersinia pseudotuberculosis was determined in 214 small wild rodents from south-eastern Poland. Samples were analyzed by precultivation and PCR. Nine (4.2%) Y. enterocolitica and one (0.5%) Y. pseudotuberculosis isolates were received. Most of them (n = 5) were obtained from the common vole (Microtus arvalis). All Y. enterocolitica strains were classified as biotype (BT) 1A. A PCR analysis of virulence markers revealed that all Y. enterocolitica isolates contained the ystB gene and five isolates harbored a rare genetic combination of ail/ystB. Three of the four ail/ystB-positive isolates belonged to serotype O:5.27. The Y. pseudotuberculosis inv-positive isolate was classified as BT 1. A genetic analysis of Y. enterocolitica harboring the ystB gene revealed 100% similarity between the analyzed sequences and the sequences from diarrhea patients in India and the United Kingdom as well as high similarity with the sequences from different species of wild animals from Poland. The Y. pseudotuberculosis inv sequence was 100% identical to the sequence isolated from fully virulent clinical strain from France and Australia. The results of our study suggest that small wild rodents, especially voles and yellow-necked mice, may act as carriers of Yersinia strains. The high similarity of the tested gene sequences between our isolates and the isolates from other free-living animals indicates that small wild rodents can play a role in the epidemiology of yersiniosis and can shed Yersinia spp. into the environment.

Two copies of the ail gene found in Yersinia enterocolitica and Yersinia kristensenii

Yersinia enterocolitica is the most common Yersinia species causing foodborne infections in humans. Pathogenic strains carry the chromosomal ail gene, which is essential for bacterial attachment to and invasion into host cells and for serum resistance. This gene is commonly amplified in several PCR assays detecting pathogenic Y. enterocolitica in food samples and discriminating pathogenic isolates from non-pathogenic ones. We have isolated several non-pathogenic ail-positive Yersinia strains from various sources in Finland. For this study, we selected 16 ail-positive Yersinia strains, which were phenotypically and genotypically characterised. Eleven strains were confirmed to belong to Y. enterocolitica and five strains to Yersinia kristensenii using whole-genome alignment, Parsnp and the SNP phylogenetic tree. All Y. enterocolitica strains belonged to non-pathogenic biotype 1A. We found two copies of the ail gene (ail1 and ail2) in all five Y. kristensenii strains and in one Y. enterocolitica biotype 1A strain. All 16 Yersinia strains carried the ail1 gene consisting of three different sequence patterns (A6-A8), which were highly similar with the ail gene found in high-pathogenic Y. enterocolitica biotype 1B strains (A2). The Ail protein encoded by the ail1 gene was highly conserved compared to the Ail protein encoded by the ail2 gene. Multiple sequence alignment of the ail gene and Ail protein were conducted with MAFF. In total, 10 ail sequence variations have been identified, of which 8 conserved ones belonged to the ail1 gene. According to our results, the detection of ail alone is not sufficient to predict the pathogenicity of Yersinia isolates.

An overview of Yersinia enterocolitica and related species in samples of different origin from San Luis, Argentina

This study is aimed at offering an overview of the prevalence of Yersinia enterocolitica and related species in San Luis, Argentina, from samples of diverse origin received in our laboratory between 1984 and 2014, and providing an analysis of the distribution of Yersinia isolates according to their isolation sources, highlighting bioserotypes and potential reservoirs and vehicles of transmission to humans. From a total of 4572 samples of human, animal, food and environmental origins analyzed by traditional culture methods and molecular techniques, 229 (5%) samples were Yersinia positive. The highest frequency of Yersinia isolates was observed in environmental specimens (14.3%), followed by animal (9.2%), food (5%) and human (0.6%) samples. A total of 255 Yersinia isolates were characterized, including 183 Y. enterocolitica and 72 isolates of other Yersinia species. Biotype 1A associated to several serotypes was identified in Y. enterocolitica isolates from environment (100%), animals (95.5%), foods (71.7%) and human samples (40%); bioserotype 2/O:9 was identified in isolates from foods (25.5%), and biotype 3 was associated with strains from humans (60%), animals (4.5%) and foods (2.8%). This biotype included three strains O:3 and six strains O:5. The data highlight animals and foods as the main Y. enterocolitica sources in our region.

Changes in Transcriptome of Yersinia pseudotuberculosis IP32953 Grown at 3 and 28°C Detected by RNA Sequencing Shed Light on Cold Adaptation

Yersinia pseudotuberculosis is a bacterium that not only survives, but also thrives, proliferates, and remains infective at cold-storage temperatures, making it an adept foodborne pathogen. We analyzed the differences in gene expression between Y. pseudotuberculosis IP32953 grown at 3 and 28°C to investigate which genes were significantly more expressed at low temperature at different phases of growth. We isolated and sequenced the RNA from six distinct corresponding growth points at both temperatures to also outline the expression patterns of the differentially expressed genes. Genes involved in motility, chemotaxis, phosphotransferase systems (PTS), and ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters of different nutrients such as fructose and mannose showed higher levels of transcripts at 3°C. At the beginning of growth, especially genes involved in securing nutrients, glycolysis, transcription, and translation were upregulated at 3°C. To thrive as well as it does at low temperature, Y. pseudotuberculosis seems to require certain cold shock proteins, especially those encoded by yptb3585, yptb3586, yptb2414, yptb2950, and yptb1423, and transcription factors, like Rho, IF-1, and RbfA, to maintain its protein synthesis. We also found that genes encoding RNA-helicases CsdA (yptb0468), RhlE (yptb1214), and DbpA (yptb1652), which unwind frozen secondary structures of nucleic acids with cold shock proteins, were significantly more expressed at 3°C, indicating that these RNA-helicases are important or even necessary during cold. Genes involved in excreting poisonous spermidine and acquiring compatible solute glycine betaine, by either uptake or biosynthesis, showed higher levels of transcripts at low temperatures. This is the first finding of a strong connection between the aforementioned genes and the cold adaptation of Y. pseudotuberculosis. Understanding the mechanisms behind the cold adaptation of Y. pseudotuberculosis is crucial for controlling its growth during cold storage of food, and will also shed light on microbial cold adaptation in general.

Yersinia pseudotuberculosis Prevalence and Diversity in Wild Boars in Northeast Germany

In this study, the prevalence of Yersinia pseudotuberculosis in wild boars in northeast Germany was determined. For that purpose, the tonsils of 503 wild boars were sampled. The presence of Y. pseudotuberculosis was studied by diagnostic PCR. Positive samples were analyzed by cultural detection using a modified cold enrichment protocol. Ten Y. pseudotuberculosis isolates were obtained, which were characterized by biotyping, molecular serotyping, and multilocus sequence typing (MLST). In addition, whole-genome sequences and the antimicrobial susceptibility of the isolates were analyzed. Yersinia pseudotuberculosis was isolated from male and female animals, most of which were younger than 1 year. A prevalence of 2% (10/503) was determined by cultural detection, while 6.4% (32/503) of the animals were positive by PCR. The isolates belonged to the biotypes 1 and 2 and serotypes O:1a (n = 7), O:1b (n = 2), and O:4a (n = 1). MLST analysis revealed three sequence types, ST9, ST23, and ST42. Except one isolate, all isolates revealed a strong resistance to colistin. The relationship of the isolates was studied by whole-genome sequencing demonstrating that they belonged to four clades, exhibiting five different pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) restriction patterns and a diverse composition of virulence genes. Six isolates harbored the virulence plasmid pYV. Besides two isolates, all isolates contained ail and inv genes and a complete or incomplete high-pathogenicity island (HPI). None of them possessed a gene for the superantigen YPM. The study shows that various Y. pseudotuberculosis strains exist in wild boars in northeast Germany, which may pose a risk to humans.IMPORTANCEYersinia pseudotuberculosis is a foodborne pathogen whose occurrence is poorly understood. One reason for this situation is the difficulty in isolating the species. The methods developed for the isolation of Yersinia enterocolitica are not well suited for Y. pseudotuberculosis We therefore designed a protocol which enabled the isolation of Y. pseudotuberculosis from a relatively high proportion of PCR-positive wild boar tonsils. The study indicates that wild boars in northeast Germany may carry a variety of Y. pseudotuberculosis strains, which differ in terms of their pathogenic potential and other properties. Since wild boars are widely distributed in German forests and even populate cities such as Berlin, they may transmit yersiniae to other animals and crop plants and may thus cause human infections through the consumption of contaminated food. Therefore, the prevalence of Y. pseudotuberculosis should be determined also in other animals and regions to learn more about the natural reservoir of this species.

Characterisation of ail-positive Yersinia enterocolitica of different biotypes using HRMA

Yersiniosis is one of the four most frequent foodborne zoonotic diseases in Europe, and Yersinia enterocolitica is the primary agent in human infections. The ail gene is an important chromosomal virulence marker of Y. enterocolitica which encodes Ail, a 17-kDa outer membrane protein that promotes attachment and invasion. In the present study, ail-positive Y. enterocolitica strains of different biotypes were examined using high resolution melting analysis (HRMA) and DNA sequencing. Genotype data relating to Y. enterocolitica strains isolated from different sources and belonging to different biotypes were compared. Applied method allowed efficient distinguishing of three genotypes and phylogenetic groups: 1A - included non-pathogenic Y. enterocolitica strains; 1B - consisted of highly pathogenic Y. enterocolitica strains and 2/4 - involved weakly pathogenic Y. enterocolitica strains. Amplicon genotyping based on HRMA supports rapid identification of ail SNPs correlated with biotype of examined Y. enterocolitica strains.