Analysis of occurrence of virulence genes among Yersinia enterocolitica isolates belonging to different biotypes and serotypes

The 150 Y enterocolitica strains isolated from humans and from pigs belonged to biotypes 4 (68.7%), 1A (18.7%) and 2 (4%), or were biochemically untypeable (8.6%). Biotype 4 was comprised of Y. enterocolitica strains representing serotype O:3, within biotype 1A the strains either belonged to serotypes O:5 and O:6 or were untypeable, and biotype 2 was represented by the strains of serotype O:9. The strains which were biochemically untypeable belonged to serotypes O:5, O:6 and O:3. Among the strains tested there also were those of an unidentified biotype and serotype. Nearly all the strains of biotype 1A represented genotype ystB+myfA+, and few belonged to genotype ystB+. The presence of the ystB gene in the strains of biotype 1A and only occasional occurrence of the gene in the other biotypes makes ystB a distinguishing marker of biotype 1A. The strains of genotype ystA+ail+myfA+yadA+ predominated in biotype 4 (serotype O:3). The strains of biotype 2 (serotype O:9) represented genotype ystA+ail+myfA+, and the plasmid yadA gene was detected in some of them. Within the group of biochemically untypeable strains ystB- and myfA-specific PCR products were mainly obtained. The genotypes determined for the tested biotypes and serotypes of Y. enterocolitica, based upon the selected genes of virulence, can be applied as distinguishing markers and indicators of the potential virulence of Y. enterocolitica strains, excluding bioserotyping.