Yersinia enterocolitica is a species of gram-negative coccobacillus-shaped bacterium, belonging to the family Enterobacteriaceae. Primarily a zoonotic disease (cattle, deer, pigs, and birds), animals which recover frequently become asymptomatic carriers of the disease.

Pathogenesis

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Y. enterocolitica infections produce severe diarrhea in humans, along with Peyer's patch necrosis, chronic lymphadenopathy, and hepatic or splenic abscesses. Additional symptoms may include entero-colitis, fever, mesenteric adenitis, erythema nodosum and acute terminal ileitis. Y. enterocolitica seems to be associated with autoimmune thyroiditis. }} Frequently confused with appendicitis or Crohn's disease, Y. enterocolitica infections are sometimes followed by chronic inflmmatory diseases such as arthritis.

Treatment of Y. enterocolitica infections requires aggressive antibiotic therapy, typically involving a combination of chloramphenicol, ampicillin, and polymyxin.

References

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Enterobacteria | Proteobacteria

Yersinia enterocolitica | Yersinia enterocolitica | Yersinia enterocolitica