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. 1977 Nov;6(5):461–468. doi: 10.1128/jcm.6.5.461-468.1977

Yersinia enterocolitica: Biochemical, Serological, and Gas-Liquid Chromatographic Characterization of Rhamnose-, Raffinose-, Melibiose-, and Citrate-Utilizing Strains

Brent Chester 1,†, Guenther Stotzky 1, Edward J Bottone 2, Moises S Malowany 3, Jona Allerhand 3
PMCID: PMC274798  PMID: 336641

Abstract

Thirteen atypical Yersinia enterocolitica isolates, all fermenting rhamnose, raffinose, and melibiose and utilizing sodium citrate within 24 to 48 h at 22°C (Y.e.rh+), were examined biochemically-serologically, and by gas-liquid chromatography. These data, as well as cultural, biochemical, and antibiotic susceptibility data gathered from two previous studies involving (i) these same atypical Y.e.rh+ isolates, (ii) Y. enterocolitica serotypes O:1 through O:15 (rhamnose, raffinose, and citrate negative [Y.e.rh−]), (iii) Y. enterocolitica serotype O:16 (rhamnose positive but raffinose and citrate negative), and (iv) Yersinia pseudotuberculosis serogroups I through V were statistically compared. Both preand postabsorption agglutination studies demonstrated the serological distinctiveness of Y.e.rh+ from Y.e.rh− and Y. pseudotuberculosis. At the same time, three immunological groups among the 13 Y.e.rh+ strains were seen; 8 corresponded to Y. enterocolitica serotype O:17; 1 to Y. enterocolitica serotype O:16; and the remaining four were nontypable in antisera against known Y. enterocolitica antigen types. Each of the three Yersinia groups tested chromatographically produced acetic and lactic acids. Both Y.e.rh− and Y.e.rh+ formed propionic acid, but only Y.e.rh+ produced detectable amounts of succinic acid. Based on 49 variables, statistical analysis of the three Yersinia groups studied placed each of the Y.e.rh+ strains in a homogeneous group separate from both Y.e.rh− and Y. pseudotuberculosis. These data, coupled with deoxyribonucleic acid homology studies of Brenner and co-workers (D. J. Brenner, A. G. Steigerwalt, D. F. Falcao, R. E. Weaver, and G. R. Fanning, Int. J. Syst. Bacteriol. 26:180-194, 1976), support the distinctiveness of Y.e.rh+ from typical Y. enterocolitica and Y. pseudotuberculosis.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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