Enterotoxigenicity as an attribute of virulence in Yersinia enterocolitica.

ABSTRACT

Seven strains of Y. enterocolitica were screened for their enterotoxic activity. Three strains belonging to serogroups 03 and 09 elicited enterotoxic response in rabbit ligated gut segments and in infant mice. The enterotoxin resisted heat at 65 degrees and 100 degrees C for 20 min. The toxin was eluted in the second beak material during Sephadex G-75 gel filtration. On the basis of polyacrylamide disc gel electrophoresis the toxic component had a molecular weight of about 12,400.