Isolation of Yersinia enterocolitica and Yersinia kristensenii from ovine faeces

Abstract

Two-hundred and thirty seven samples obtained from sheep bowel contents were examined. One hundred and fourty seven samples belonged to diarrhoeic lambs with neonatal death, 40 to clinically healthy lambs and 42 to clinically healthy ewes. Samples were kept in PBS at 4° C during one month and cultured weekly in a Yersinia medium, incubating at 25° C for 48 hours.

Three strains of Y. enterocolitica, two of the biotype 1 and one of the biotype 2 were isolated from sick lamb samples. Phenotipically it was not possible to identify the virulent plasmids and no positive reaction to the antiseras used was observed. Two strains of Y. kristensenii were isolated.

The importance of Y. enterocolitica in causing enteric pathologies and its importance as a cause of ovine abortion is discussed.