J Korean Soc Microbiol.  1997 Dec;32(6):701-715.

Seropositive Rate to Yersinia enterocolitica - pseudotuberculosis complex among Patients with Acute Gastroenteritis in Children , 1994-1997

• Chung SI
• Kim WY
• Kim KJ
• Choi CS

Abstract

To investigate incidence of acute gastroenteritis (AGE) caused by Yersinia enterocolitica and Y. pseudotuberculosis (referred to as Y. enterocolitica-pseudotuberculosis complex) in children, seropositive rates to major 8 serotypes of Y. enterocolitica-pseudotuberculosis complex antigens among 467 sera of three groups of subjects (298 acute gastroenteritis; AGE, 108 miscellaneous pediatric diseases; MPD, and 61 healthy medical students; HMS) were investigated by bacterial agglutination test using standardized, heat-killed, phenolized, smooth 0 antigens. In addition, cross-reactions between yersinia agglutinins and Widal agglutinins in patients with AGE caused by Y. enterocolitica-pseudotuberculosis complex were examined in paired serum specimens. Seropositive rates to Y. enterocolitica-pseudotuberculosis complex among three groups, AGE, MPD, and HMS, were 36.5%, 13.8%, and 14.7%, respectively. Of 109 seropositive AGE patients, the most common type-specific agglutinin which showed predominating agglutinin titer to one of 8 serotypes of Y. enterocolitica-pseudotuberculosis complex antigens was PO4b (27.5%), followed by PO2a (23.8%), EO3 (16.5%), PO5a (13.7%), PO5b (9.1%), PO3 (4.5%), EO9 (2.7%), and POlb (1.8%), in orders. The Widal agglutinins cross-reacted to Y. pseudotuberculosis PO4b antigen, but the yersinia agglutinins were differentiated from Widal agglutinins by rising agglutinin titers in paired serum specimens taken one to three weeks apart. In conclusion, acute gastroenteritis caused by Y. pseudotuberculosis in children must be regarded as a fairly common enteric disease in children.

MeSH Terms

Agglutination Tests
Agglutinins
Child*
Gastroenteritis*
Humans
Incidence
Phenol
Students, Medical
Yersinia enterocolitica*
Yersinia*
Agglutinins
Phenol