Isolation of Yershinia enterocolitica from stool of children suffering from gastroenteritis and from different types of water in Alexandria

ABSTRACT

Y. enterocolitica is an organism which has been gaining wide spread recognition in recent years as a source of human infection. the purpose of this study was to detect the possible presence of Yersinia in stool of children suffering form diarrhea and acute gastroenteritis as well as the presence of that organism in different types of water in Alex. It could be concluded from this study that cold enrichment technique and the use of special selective medium are essential for isolation of Y. enterocolitica. Unfortunately, cold enrichment is not of immediate clinical value because of the time required to isolate Y. enterocolitica. However, it may be used in suspected cases when other enteropathogenic organisms could not be incriminated as a cause of gastroenteritis. In our study the isolation of Y. enterocolitica from stool was 2% and from fresh and sea water was 3%