Enteritis associated with Yersinia pseudotuberculosis infection in a buffalo

Yersinia pseudotuberculosis infections in goats and other animals diagnosed at the California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory System: 1990–2012

Yersinia pseudotuberculosis is a recognized zoonotic food-borne pathogen; however, little is known about the ecology and epidemiology of diseases caused by the bacterium in California. The objective of the current study was to contribute to the knowledge of the diseases caused by Y. pseudotuberculosis in goats, the animal species most frequently reported with clinical yersiniosis to the California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory System, to better understand the epidemiology of this disease. A 23-year retrospective study was conducted to characterize the syndromes caused by the bacterium in goats and their temporospatial distribution, and to determine the number of cases in other animal species. Yersinia pseudotuberculosis–associated disease was diagnosed in 42 goats from 21 counties, with a strong seasonality in winter and spring. Most cases (88%) were observed within particular years (1999, 2004–2006, 2010–2011). The most frequently diagnosed syndrome was enteritis and/or typhlocolitis (64.3%), followed by abscessation (14.3%), abortion (11.9%), conjunctivitis (4.75%), and hepatitis (4.75%). Among other animal species, 59 cases were diagnosed in non-poultry avian species and 33 in mammals other than goats.

Caprine Enteritis Associated with Yersinia pseudotuberculosis Infection

Yersiniosis was prevalent among a caprine herd during the late autumn of 2003 in Iwate Prefecture, Japan. The disease affected 29 of about 100 lactating goats, but not dried or nonparous goats, mature male goats or kids. Four animals died within an epidemic period of 20 days. Affected animals developed decreased milk production with subsequent watery diarrhea, neutrophilia with increased band forms and multiple microabscesses characteristic of yersiniosis in the intestinal mucosa from the jejunum to caecum as well as in the mesenteric lymph nodes. Y. pseudotuberculosis serotype III was isolated from intestinal contents and mesenteric lymph nodes. The organism was also cultured from clinically normal dried animals. The outbreak might have been precipitated by multiple stress factors, such as lactation, cold weather, Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis infection resulting in abscess formation and tapeworm and coccidium parasitisms.