ABSTRACT
Yersinia enterocolitica is a Gram-negative bacterium belonging to the genus Yersinia, family Enterobacteriaceae. In humans, Y. enterocolitica are well-known food-borne pathogens which are mainly transmitted by water and food. Its epidemic often appears after the ingestion of contaminated foods, especially contaminated meat such as chicken. The aim of this study was to determine the presence of Yersinia enterocolitica serotype O:3 in Chicken meat in Shahrekord, Iran. In this study, 300 chicken meat samples were randomly obtained from local supermarkets of Shahrekord. Under strile conditions, 25 g of each sample was taken into 10 ml phosphate buffered saline [pH 7.2] and was homogenized by Stomacher and incubated at 4[degree]C for two weeks. At weekly intervals, a suspension aliquot was cultured linearly on Cefsulodin Irgasan Novobiocin Agar [CIN]. The positive sampals were examined by PCR method, to determine the presence of O:3 serotype. Using culture and PCR method, 65 of the total 300 chicken meat samples were found positive; thus, the prevalence of Y. enterocolitica contamination was 21.66%. Of these, 10 [15.38%] were found to be positive for Yersinia enterocolitica O:3 serotype. The results of this study indicated the presence of Yersinia enterocolitica in chicken meat. Moreover, it was shown that this bacterium is easily transmitted by food and also easily grows in refrigerators at 4 degrees Celsius. Concerning these results, it is recommended that health authorities of Iran consider this issue more seriously, to prevent the health and economic problems which are resulted from it.