Yersinia-related arthritis in the Pacific Northwest.

Serologic evidence of Yersinia enterocolitica infection was sought by agglutination testing in serum samples from several populations, including Haida Indians, Red Cross blood donors, and Caucasian patients with rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, and Reiter's syndrome. No evidence was found to indicate that yersinial infection was etiologically related to Haida spondylitis or Reiter's syndrome. Four of 28 patients with acute arthritis were diagnosed from serologic evidence as having Yersinia-related arthritis.