Incidence of Yersinia spp. in food in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

This study examined the occurrence of Y. enterocolitica and other Yersinia species in Brazilian food products. Samples included raw vegetables (lettuce, spinach, watercress and chicory), raw and pasteurized milk as well as meat and meat products. Raw milk samples were obtained in a dairy plant and the other food samples were purchased at the retail level in Sao Paulo city. Yersinia spp. was isolated from raw milk (45.2%), pasteurized milk (14.3%), raw vegetables samples (13.3%) and meat and meat products (40.0%). Most of the strains isolated were Y. enterocolitica followed by Y. intermedia. This high incidence in raw milk and meat and meat products implies that these products are a likely sources of contamination with Yersinia spp.