Epidemiological Studies of Yersinia pseudotuberculosis Infection by Plasmid DNA Profile Assay / 감염

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: In order to investigate transmission route of Yersinia pseudotuberculosis infection in Korea, we tried epidemiological study among human strains, mountain spring water strain and wild mouse strain which were isolated in north eastern area of Seoul on spring in 1996. METHODS: Plasmid profile (Restriction Endonuclease Analysis of Virulence Plasmid DNA analysis: REAP) assay in addition to serotyping were performed among human strains, mountain spring water strain and wild mouse strains. RESULTS: All isolates were the same O serotype of 4b and the same REAP pattern of type D. CONCLUSION: These results suggested that wild mice (especially Apodemus agrarius) were one of main reservoir of Y. pseudotuberculosis in Korea and their fecal material might contaminate mountain spring water. Most of human infections of Y. pseudotuberculosis were originated from drinking of contaminated mountain spring waters in Korea.