[Virulence plasmid in Yersinia enterocolitica O:3 of murine origin].
BACKGROUND
Pathogenic strains of Yersinia enterocolitica harbor a virulence plasmid of 45-48 megadalton that can be detected using different techniques. Rodents are important reservoirs of Y enterocolitica.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate the carrier status of Y enterocolitica in murine rodents.


METHODS
Two hundred sixty-one mice and rats were captured in rural and urban areas of Valdivia. Y enterocolitica was cultured from viscera and fecal homogenates. Virulence plasmids were detected using crystal violet binding.


RESULTS
Thirteen Y enterocolitica strains were isolated from 11 rodents. Ten strains belonged to the biotype 1 and three to the biotype 4, serotype O:3. The most frequently infected rodent species were R norvergicus (20%), followed by A longipilis (11%), A olivaceus (2%) and O longicaudatus (2%).


CONCLUSIONS
Rodents, and specially the domestic rat, can be an important source of Y enterocolitica infection for human and susceptible animal species.
Zamora
J
J
Instituto de Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile. jzamora@uach.cl
Reinhardt
G
G
Macías
P
P
D000818:Animals; D051379:Mice; D010957:Plasmids; D051381:Rats; D012377:Rodentia / Q000382:microbiology; D014774:Virulence; D015009:Yersinia Infections / Q000382:microbiology; D015008:Yersinia enterocolitica / Q000235:genetics / Q000472:pathogenicity*
Plásmido de virulencia en yersinia enterocolitica O:3 de origen murino.