Yersinia enterocolitica

Y. enterocolitica are gram-negative rod-shaped bacteria that give rise to food poisoning. Other species in this family include Y. pseudotuberculosis and Y. pestis, all of which are known pathogens. Y. enterocolitica are found most often in feces and wound, but they can also contaminate food and water sources. However, only a few strains of Y. Enterocolitica cause diseases in human and especially in pigs(12). (6, 1,2) Understanding of Y. enterocolitica is significant due to increasing numbers of infections by this species in the past 30 years. This pathogen can induce gastroenteritis, which produces gastrointestinal mucous membrane inflammation similar to that caused by salmonella species.(4)