Yersinia enterocolitica as an aetiological agent of childhood diarrhoea in Enugu, Nigeria.

Stool samples from a total of 638 children aged 0-12 years old presenting with diarrhoea in the Enugu area of Eastern Nigeria were examined during the period January 1988 to January 1991. Of these, nine (1.4pc) had samples that were positive for yersiniosis. Of the nine cases, seven occurred between April and November (rainy season) while the remaining two occurred between December and March (dry season). The age group 0-1 year yielded the majority of the positive cases of Yersinia enterocolitica infections. There was no predilection for sex observed. No other enteropathogenic bacteria or parasites were isolated from these cases. Of the nine isolates, six belonged to biotype four, serotype 0:3, while the rest belonged to biotype one, serotype 0:6. All the nine strains were found to be resistant to ampicillin and cephalothin, two to streptomycin, two to cephoxitin and three to streptomycin and tetracycline. The need for the inclusion of the search for Yersinia enterocolitica in childhood diarrhoea in Enugu is stressed.