Disease

Introduction. 

Yersiniosis is an infection caused by the bacterium Yersinia, the same family that includes Yersinia pestis which is the bacteria responsible for causing the plague. The primary cause for yersiniosis is caused by Y. enterocolitica and is predominantly transferred through the fecal-oral consumption of infected pork, contaminated water, or contact with someone who has prepared a pork product. It is estimated to cause 117,000 infections and 35 deaths in the United States per year.

Summary

• Cause: Yersinia enterocolitica (A gram negative, rod shaped, non-spore forming facultative anaerobe that is approximately 0.5µm by 1.5µm )
• Transmission: Fecal-oral (pork, water)
• Symptoms: Fever, abdominal cramps, and (often bloody) diarrhea which can last from 1-3 weeks.
• Pathogenesis:  Urease and attachment adhesins initiate invasion of epithelium; TNF-a and IL-8 production via Yops virulence factor
• Complications: Arthralgia, skin rash, and bacteremia
• Treatment: self-limiting, or aminoglycosides, ciprofloxacin, and doxycycline
• Immunity: none
• Vaccine: none

References/Links

1. Aziz, M., & Yelamanchili, V. S. (2022, July 4). Yersinia enterocolitica. National Library of Medicine. Retrieved April 24, 2023, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK499837/

2. CDC (https://www.cdc.gov/yersinia/index.html)

3. Medscape (https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/232343-overview)