M. Fredriksson-ahomaa et al., Prevalence of pathogenic Yersinia enterocolitica in food samples at retaillevel in Finland, ARCH LEBENS, 52(3), 2001, pp. 66-68
Prevalence of pathogenic Yersinia enterocolitica was studied in pork, fish,
chicken and lettuce at retail level with the PCR and culture methods. A hi
gh prevalence of pathogenic Y. enterocolitica was detected in pig tongues,
hearts and kidneys with both methods. Three out of 101 lettuce samples were
positive with only the PCR method. All fish and chicken samples were negat
ive with both methods. Some nonpathogenic Y. enterocolitica isolates were r
ecovered from fish, chicken and lettuce samples. The PCR method was clearly
the more sensitive method, even though false-negative results were also ob
tained. Pathogenic, yadA-positive isolates were recovered after selective e
nrichment. All of these isolates belonged to bioserotype 4.03, but all isol
ates of this type were not yadA-positive. These results show that raw pork
is an important source of pathogenic Y. enterocolitica at retail level in F
inland.