title: Characteristics of Yersinia enterocolitica isolated from children with diarrhea in Italy.
abstract: Of 2,500 fecal samples collected from children with diarrhea in the province of Siena, 35 (1.4%) were found to be positive for Yersinia enterocolitica. Of the isolates, 94.2% belonged to biotype 4, serotype 0:3; 2.8% belonged to biotype 2, serotype O:9; and 2.8% belonged to biotype 1, serotype O:6. The in vitro pathogenicity tests showed that all but two isolates were calcium dependent and autoagglutinable and that all but one were also invasive in HEp-2 cell culture. As regards plasmid content, 32 of 33 biotype 4, serotype O:3 strains harbored a plasmid of 48 megadaltons and 1 strain also harbored a small plasmid of 2 megadaltons. The biotype 2, serotype O:9 strain harbored a plasmid of 42 megadaltons; one of the two strans lacking plasmids belonged to biotype 1, serotype O:6, and the other belonged to biotype 4, serotype O:3. Pyrazinamidase activity was positive only for the biotype 1, serotype O:6 strain. Esculin was hydrolyzed only by the biotype 1, serotype O:6 strain.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000382:microbiology*; D004352:Drug Resistance, Microbial; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D010957:Plasmids; D014774:Virulence; D015009:Yersinia Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D015008:Yersinia enterocolitica / Q000145:classification / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000472:pathogenicity*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents