What causes yersiniosis?
Yersiniosis is an infectious disease caused by enteric bacteria of the genus Yersinia. In the United States, most human illness is caused by one species, Y. enterocolitica.
What is the pathogenesis of Yersinia enterocolitica?
enterocolitica pathogenesis is colonization of the intestinal tract, particularly the distal small intestine (terminal ileum) and proximal colon. Accordingly, most of the pathologic effects and, hence, clinical manifestations occur at this location.
What toxin is produced by Yersinia enterocolitica?
Yersinia stable toxin-a
Primary pathogenic strains of Y. enterocolitica are known to produce a heat-stable enterotoxin named Yersinia stable toxin-a (YST-a) (Delor et al., 1990).
How does Yersinia enterocolitica cause disease?
Yersiniosis is an infection caused most often by eating raw or undercooked pork contaminated with Yersinia enterocolitica bacteria. CDC estimates Y. enterocolitica causes almost 117,000 illnesses, 640 hospitalizations, and 35 deaths in the United States every year.
Where is yersiniosis found?
enterocolitica is found in wild and domestic animals, especially pigs. It can also be found in birds, reptiles, rodents, rabbits, sheep, cattle, horses, dogs, and cats. People can become infected with Y.
What are the virulence factors of Yersinia pestis?
pestis expresses several virulence factors, including F1 antigen, Psa, and four Yops (YopT, YopH, YopE, and YpkA) which are employed to resist phagocytosis by the surrounding professional phagocytes.
What are the symptoms of Yersinia enterocolitica?
Infection with Y. enterocolitica occurs most often in young children. Common symptoms in children are fever, abdominal pain, and diarrhea, which is often bloody. In older children and adults, right-sided abdominal pain and fever may be confused with symptoms of appendicitis.
Where is Y. enterocolitica found?
Y. enterocolitica is found in wild and domestic animals, especially pigs. It can also be found in birds, reptiles, rodents, rabbits, sheep, cattle, horses, dogs, and cats.
How does Yersinia enterocolitica spread?
Yersinia enterocolitica is most often transmitted by consumption of contaminated food (most commonly raw or undercooked pork), unpasteurized milk or inadequately pasteurized milk, untreated water, or by direct or indirect contact with animals.
How does Yersinia enterocolitica affect the body?
When a Y enterocolitica infection is present, it not only causes an inflamed small intestine and colon, but also symptoms such as diarrhea and a fever. A child with this infection may have stools that contain blood and mucus. These symptoms may last for 1 to 3 weeks, sometimes longer.