Application of PCR for the identification of pathogenic Yersinia enterocolitica strains isolated from humans and pigs

The aim of the investigations was the identification of pathogenic markers of Yersinia enterocolitica isolated from humans and pigs by means of polime rase chain reaction (PCR). Two pairs of the starters Ail-a, Ail-b and Yst-a , Yst-b were used. One hundred twenty-two strains of Yersinia enterocolitic a were tested. Among them, 0:3, 0:9, 0:2, 0:5 serogroups were identified. A multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was developed to detect the pres ence of the chromosomal ail and gist genes of the Yersinia enterocolitica s trains tested. The results of the multiplex PCR for Y. enterocolitica strains indicated th at all human and animal isolates examined, belonging to four serobiotypes, gave a positive reaction for the ail gene and yst gene, yielding fragments of 356 and 134 base pairs respectively. PCR products were not obtained with any of the two primers while using template DNA from Y. pseudotuberculosis , Y. kristensenii, Salmonella enteritidis, Shigella flexnerii and Citrobact er freundii. The presence of the chromosomal ail and yst genes in the Yersi nia enterocolitica strains from humans and pigs indicates that pigs are a s ignificant reservoir of pathogenic rod Y. enterocolitica.