Yersiniosis

Yersiniosis
Colonies of Y. enterocolitica growing on blood agar
SpecialtyInfectious disease, gastroenterology
Symptomsfever; bloody diarrhea; abdominal pain; vomiting
ComplicationsDehydration, hypovolemia; intestinal necrosis
Duration1 to 3 weeks
CausesY. enterocolitica (most cases); Y. pseudotuberculosis; other Yersinia species (rarely)
Diagnostic methodELISA
Differential diagnosisAppendicitis; food poisoning; viral enteritis; giardiasis; cholera; salmonellosis

Yersiniosis is an infectious disease of the gastrointestinal tract caused by bacteria of the genus Yersinia other than Y. pestis. Most cases of yersiniosis in humans are caused by Y. enterocolitica, with a small minority being caused by Y. pseudotuberculosis. Rarely, other species of the genus can cause yersiniosis.[1]

Yersiniosis most frequently affects young children.[2] The infection is thought to be contracted through the consumption of undercooked meat products, unpasteurized milk, or water contaminated by the bacteria. It has been also sometimes associated with handling raw chitterlings.[3][4] However, most cases of yersiniosis lack a clear source, and are considered sporadic.[2]

Y. pestis is not considered to be a causative agent of yersiniosis because it is the organism that causes Plague, which is considered to be a distinct disease.[1]

  1. ^ a b Le Guern, Anne-Sophie; Martin, Liliane; Savin, Cyril; Carniel, Elisabeth (May 2016). "Yersiniosis in France: overview and potential sources of infection". International Journal of Infectious Diseases. 46: 1–7. doi:10.1016/j.ijid.2016.03.008. ISSN 1201-9712. PMID 26987478.
  2. ^ a b Rivas, Lucia; Strydom, Hugo; Paine, Shevaun; Wang, Jing; Wright, Jackie (2021-02-10). "Yersiniosis in New Zealand". Pathogens. 10 (2): 191. doi:10.3390/pathogens10020191. ISSN 2076-0817. PMC 7916520. PMID 33578727.
  3. ^ Jones TF (August 2003). "From pig to pacifier: chitterling-associated yersiniosis outbreak among black infants". Emerging Infectious Diseases. 9 (8): 1007–9. doi:10.3201/eid0908.030103. PMC 3020614. PMID 12967503.
  4. ^ Lee, LA.; Gerber, AR.; Lonsway, DR.; Smith, JD.; Carter, GP.; Puhr, ND.; Parrish, CM.; Sikes, RK.; Finton, RJ.; Tauxe, RV. (1990). " Yersinia enterocolitica O:3 infections in infants and children, associated with the household preparation of chitterlings". New England Journal of Medicine. 322 (14): 984–987. doi:10.1056/NEJM199004053221407. PMID 2314448.