Enterotoxin production at 4, 22, and 37 degrees C by Yersinia enterocolitica and Yersinia enterocolitica-like bacteria isolated from porcine tonsils and pork products.

Altogether, 71 strains of Yersinia enterocolitica and Yersinia enterocolitica-like bacteria from porcine tonsils and pork products were examined for their ability to produce enterotoxin using the infant mouse assay. Of these, 37 strains (52.1 %) produced enterotoxin at 22 °C, 3 were positive at 4 and 22 °C, and 1 was enterotoxigenic at 22 and 37°C. No strain was positive at all 3 temperatures. The highest prevalence of enterotoxin production at 22°C was detected in serotype 0:11 (80.0%), followed by 0:3/ biotype 4 (74.2 %), and 0:12 (66.7 %). Enterotoxin production at 4°C was recorded in 2 (15.4 %) of the Yersinia kristensenii strains (0:11, 0:12) and 1 of the Yersinia enterocolitica strains, (0:3) examined. One Yersinia kristensenii strain (0:11) was enterotoxigenic at 37 °C. The results indicate that enterotoxin production is a common feature of yersiniae isolated from porcine tonsils and pork products in Norway and may represent a possible source of food borne intoxication.