title: Prevalence and genetic diversity of enteropathogenic Yersinia spp. in pigs at farms and slaughter in Lithuania.
abstract: The prevalence of enteropathogenic Yersinia spp. in pigs at farms and slaughter in relation to potential farming risk factors in Lithuania was examined. Pig faeces and carcase swab samples from 11 farms were studied at slaughterhouses. Nine of the 11 farms were visited again 3-5 months later, and pooled feacal samples and environmental samples were collected. Pathogenic Yersinia enterocolitica was found in 64% and Yersinia pseudotuberculosis in 45% of the sampled pig farms. All obtained isolates belonged to bioserotypes 4/O:3 and 2/O:3, respectively. Low biosecurity level was associated with a high prevalence of Y. enterocolitica on farms. Characterization with PFGE of 64 Y. enterocolitica and 27 Y. pseudotuberculosis isolates revealed seven and two different genotypes, respectively. Dominant enteropathogenic Yersinia spp. genotypes were obtained in both pig feacal and carcase samples. The high contamination of pig carcases (25%) with enteropathogenic Yersinia spp. may be an important factor contributing to the high incidence of human yersiniosis in Lithuania.
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Safety and Quality, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Veterinary Academy, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Tilzes 18, LT-47181, Kaunas, Lithuania. aleksandr.novoslavskij@lva.lt
authors.forename: Aleksandr
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Novoslavskij
authors.forename: Loreta
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Šernienė
authors.forename: Alvydas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Malakauskas
authors.forename: Riikka
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Laukkanen-Ninios
authors.forename: Hannu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Korkeala
authors.forename: Mindaugas
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Malakauskas
mesh_terms: D000003:Abattoirs; D000822:Animal Husbandry; D000818:Animals; D014644:Genetic Variation; D008097:Lithuania / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D013552:Swine; D013553:Swine Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D015007:Yersinia / Q000235:genetics*; D015009:Yersinia Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*