Yersinia enterocolitica and Yersinia pseudotuberculosis

Clin Lab Med. 1999 Sep;19(3):523-36, vi.

Abstract

Yersinia enterocolitica can cause enteritis, right lower-quadrant pain mimicking appendicitis, reactive arthritis, and erythema nodosum. This organism is transmitted through food, animal contact, and contaminated blood products. Patients with iron excess are at a higher risk for serious infection. This article describes the history, microbiology, virulence factors, epidemiology, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, and therapy of Y. enterocolitica and Y. pseudotuberculosis. In addition, the immune response of those developing reactive arthritis following infection with Y. enterocolitica is discussed.

Publication types

  • Historical Article
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Australia / epidemiology
  • Europe / epidemiology
  • Food Microbiology*
  • History, 19th Century
  • History, 20th Century
  • Humans
  • North America / epidemiology
  • Virulence
  • Yersinia enterocolitica / pathogenicity*
  • Yersinia pseudotuberculosis / pathogenicity*
  • Yersinia pseudotuberculosis Infections* / epidemiology
  • Yersinia pseudotuberculosis Infections* / history
  • Yersinia pseudotuberculosis Infections* / pathology
  • Yersinia pseudotuberculosis Infections* / therapy