Detection of Yersinia enterocolitica in Slaughter Pigs

Conclusions

Using the methods A and B Yersinia spp. could not be detected in any samples. This could be due to the high enrichment temperatures during these procedures.

Comparing the results of the cold-enrichment methods according to Mair and Fox (1986) and to Harmon et al., (1984) with the latter method more Yersinia spp. positive samples were detected. Including a high percentage of positive cases detected in both cold-enrichment methods (15.7%), our experiments showed that the combination of the methods gave the best results (35.7% Yersinia spp. positive samples).

Assuming that the warm-enrichment methods are frequently used in the laboratories it could be supposed that in an unknown number of human food intoxications and regular food investigations Y. enterocolitica is detected false negative. However, due to the disadvantage that the cold-enrichment methods resulting in many Yersinia spp. positive cases are very time-consuming it is necessary on the one hand to evaluatemolecular-mikrobiological techniques, on the other hand to take special care in preventing the entry of the pathogen into the food chain.