YERSINIOSIS

YERSINIOSIS


Yersiniosis is a bacterial disease that usually affects the intestinal tract. The disease is seen most often in young children and during the cooler months of the year, usually November through January.



MORBIDITY: +




MORTALITY: +




ETIOLOGY: BACTERIAL


Yersiniosis is caused by a gram-negative rod, Yersinia enterocolitica. Some readers may recognize the genus name from Yersinia pestis, the causative agent of the plague. These two bacteria belong to the same genus but cause different diseases.


Y. enterocolitica needs iron to survive, so the more iron a person has in the blood, the more Y. enterocolitica may grow. This becomes important in diseases that are characterized by elevated iron levels, such as hemochromatosis, sickle cell disease, and thalassemia.


Y. enterocolitica grows best in an environment that is slightly alkaline. People taking antacids that reduce stomach acidity are creating more alkaline environments in their intestinal tracts, which creates more favorable growing conditions for Y. enterocolitica.


Cool temperatures favor the growth of Y. enterocolitica, which is why yersiniosis is seen more often during the cooler, winter months.



HOSTS


Y. enterocolitica is found in the feces of many animals. Pigs are the most common source of human infection. Other strains that can cause human disease are found in dogs, cats, rodents, rabbits, horses, cattle, and sheep. Once infected, a person will shed the Y. enterocolitica organism.



TRANSMISSION


Most people will get infected by eating feces-contaminated food or by drinking contaminated milk or water. Undercooked or raw pork is a common source of infection. Preparing chitterlings, made from the small intestines of pigs, can be especially dangerous.


Unpasteurized milk and dairy products and untreated water can also be contaminated with Y. enterocolitica. The organism has also been found in cold cuts, ice cream, tofu, and shellfish from contaminated water, lakes, and streams.


Infants can be infected if caregivers are not meticulous about washing their hands after handling raw meat or after using the bathroom. The organism can be passed from the caregiver to anything infants put in their mouths, which could be just about anything within reach.


Other sources of Y. enterocolitica can include produce contaminated with raw manure containing Y. enterocolitica, direct contact with infected animals, and cross-contamination of food preparation utensils and cutting surfaces.

Related posts:

  1. ABOUT THE DISEASES
  2. CAMPYLOBACTERIOSIS (VIBRIOSIS)
  3. MYCOBACTERIUM INFECTIONS (TUBERCULOSIS)
  4. PSITTACOSIS

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Oct 1, 2016 | Posted by in EXOTIC, WILD, ZOO | Comments Off on YERSINIOSIS

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