About Yersinia

Yersinia is a genus of bacteria in the family Yersiniaceae. Its species are Gram-negative, coccobacilli bacteria, a few micrometers long and fractions of a micrometer in diameter, and are facultative anaerobic. Some members of Yersinia are pathogenic in humans, such as Yersinia enterocolitica, Yersinia pseudotuberculosis and Yersinia pestis. Rodents are the natural reservoirs of Yersinia, less frequently, other mammals serve as hosts. Yersinia species are further found in soil and waters.

Infection may occur either through blood (in the case of Y. pestis) or in an alimentary fashion, occasionally via consumption of food products (especially vegetables, milk-derived products, and meat) contaminated with infected urine or feces.

[Source: en.wikipedia.org]

Available Tests for Yersinia

EliSpot

Yersinia EliSpot
(2x ACD/CPDA tube)

IFA, ELISA, Immunoblot

Yersinia-IgA- and Yersinia-IgG-antibodies
(1x Serum/SST tube)

PCR

Yersinia-DNA-PCR
(from biopsies)

Bacteria:

Yersinia enterocolitica, Yersinia pseudotuberculosis (gram-negative)

Vector / Transmission:

oral (contaminated food like raw or undercooked pork products, unpasteurized milk, untreated water, stool to mouth)

Symptoms (incubation time days up to 4-7 days):

fever, abdominal pain, diarrhea, skin rash, joint pains, myalgia, pharyngitis, vomiting, headache

Complications (up to 30%):

reactive arthritis (40-80% HLA-B27 positive), Erythema nodosum, Morbus Reiter, uveitis, urticaria, Guillan-Barre-Syndrome, anorexia

Risk factors:

immune suppression (children, older people)