Investigations of source and route of Yersinia enterocolitica infection.

Isolation of Yersinia enterocolitica was performed on healthy humans, animals and food, and growth of Y. enterocolitica on sliced ham at various temperature ranges was also examined. It was noticed that the most prevalent 0 group (03) in human infection was isolated from swine, pork and chopping boards. The storage of food in the refrigerator (5 degrees C) possibly increases the risk of infection since Y. enterocolitica is multipliable at low temperatures more readily than many other pathogenic bacteria. Pork and meat products contaminated with Y. enterocolitica, either primarily or secondarily, are probably the most important source of human infection.