title: Prevalence of yersinia species in traditional and commercial dairy products in isfahan province, iran.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Yersinia species, especially Yersinia enterocolitica, are considered as the most prevalent milk-borne pathogens. Several serological and molecular techniques have been developed for rapid and safe diagnosis of yersiniosis.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study was carried out to assess the prevalence rate of Yersinia species, especially Y. enterocolitica, in milk and dairy products in Isfahan province, Iran.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 285 commercial and traditional dairy products as well as 267 pasteurized and raw milk samples were collected during one year. The samples were studied by culturing and the positive-culture samples were investigated using PCR techniques.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results of culture showed that 52 (9.42%) and 28 (5.07%) of the total 552 milk and dairy samples were positive for presences of Yersinia species and Y. enterocolitica, respectively. Totally, 24 of 28 Y. enterocolitica isolates by culture were positive in PCR test (4.59%). Raw cow milk and traditional cheese had the highest prevalence of Yersinia species and Y. enterocolitica, respectively. There were no positive results for pasteurized cow milk, raw camel milk, commercial ice cream, commercial cheese, yoghurt, Doogh, butter and curd. Yersinia species and Y. enterocolitica had the highest prevalence in autumn (15.15% and 10.6%, respectively). Significant differences regarding P < 0.05 were observed between the presences of Yersinia species and Y. enterocolitica in various samples and seasons.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Sanitation and pasteurization are the best ways to increase the microbial quality and particularly decrease the load of Yersinia species. The ability of Yersinia species to growth in Doogh, yoghurt, curd and butter is very low.
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Hygiene and Public Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, Shahrekord Branch, Islamic Azad University, Shahrekord, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Ebrahim
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rahimi
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Agriculture, Shahrekord Branch, Islamic Azad University, Shahrekord, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sepehri
authors.affiliation: Young Researchers and Elites Club, Shahrekord Branch, Islamic Azad University, Shahrekord, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Farhad
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Safarpoor Dehkordi
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Agriculture, Shahrekord Branch, Islamic Azad University, Shahrekord, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Shima
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shaygan
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Shahrekord Branch, Islamic Azad University, Shahrekord, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Hassan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Momtaz
keywords: Dairy Products; Milk; Seasons; Yersinia enterocolitica