A rapid and sensitive method for the detection of Yersinia enterocolitica strains from clinical samples.
OBJECTIVE
To compare three culture methods to detect Yersinia enterocolitica from oral or rectal swabs from experimentally infected pigs.


RESULTS
The three methods used were: direct plating on Cefsulodin-Irgasan-Novobiocin (CIN) agar, cold enrichment in phosphate buffered saline (PBS) followed by plating on CIN agar and selective enrichment with Luria-Bertani-Bile Salts Irgasan (LB-BSI) followed by plating on CIN agar. Selective enrichment with LB-BSI produced the highest recovery rate (63%), when compared with cold enrichment (52%) and plating on CIN agar alone (43%). Selective enrichment with LB-BSI was significantly (P < 0.02) more sensitive than direct plating on CIN agar and more sensitive than cold enrichment (P < 0.1).


CONCLUSIONS
Selective enrichment with LB-BSI was more sensitive than the widely accepted method of cold enrichment and it reduced the time required for detection of Y. enterocolitica by three weeks. Selective enrichment with LB-BSI was also compatible with a multiplex PCR technique.
Hussein
H M
HM
Institute of Veterinary, Animal and Biomedical Sciences, College of Science, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand.
Fenwick
S G
SG
Lumsden
J S
JS
D000362:Agar; D000818:Animals; D001431:Bacteriological Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D003470:Culture Media; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000302:isolation & purification; D009055:Mouth / Q000382:microbiology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary; D012007:Rectum / Q000382:microbiology; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013552:Swine; D013553:Swine Diseases / Q000382:microbiology*; D013997:Time Factors; D015009:Yersinia Infections / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D015008:Yersinia enterocolitica / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*
D003470:Culture Media; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D000362:Agar