[Diagnostic value of bacteriologic and serologic studies in detecting intestinal yersiniosis in children].

The survey of 200 children with diarrhea revealed the presence of enteric yersiniosis in 31 children (15.5%). Y. enterocolitica culture was isolated from the feces of 17 children (8.5%), diagnostic serological shifts were detected in 27 children (13.5%). Among 100 children hospitalized with diarrhea of previously established etiology (dysentery, salmonellosis, etc) 6 children were found to have yersiniosis. The survey of 100 practically healthy children did not reveal any cases of enteric yersiniosis or healthy carriership. To isolate Yersinia, the feces were incubated in phosphate buffer in the cold (4--6 degrees C) and then inoculated into common diagnostic media for enterobacteria. Antibodies were detected in the indirect hemagglutination test with the use of dried erythrocytic yersiniosis diagnostic reagent. A tentative diagnostic titer of 1 : 200 was determined. Antibodies to the causative agent appeared on the 1st week, reached the maximum level on the 2nd and then gradually decreased. The clinical symptoms of the enteric form of yersiniosis resemble those of other kinds of infectious diarrhea, non-dysenteric in etiology. The authors believe that it is necessary for all children with diarrhea, especially at the age of 1--7 years, to be examined for enteric yersiniosis.