Characterisation of Yersinia species isolated from a kennel and from cattle and pig farms.

Between April 1984 and November 1986, 126 faeces samples were collected from puppies and bitches in a kennel and examined for Yersinia species; 45 (35.7 per cent) of them were positive. Thirty-eight isolates were Y enterocolitica, five were Y frederiksenii and two were Y intermedia. Twenty-one of the Y enterocolitica isolates belonged to serogroup 0:3 and 17 of these were L-sorbose negative; all these isolates were from puppies. One strain of Y frederiksenii and all the L-sorbose-negative Y enterocolitica serogroup 0:3 isolates were resistant to antimicrobial agents and showed four different patterns of resistance (ampicillin, cephalothin and tetracycline; ampicillin, cephalothin, streptomycin and tetracycline; ampicillin, chloramphenicol, cephalothin, streptomycin and sulfathiazole; and ampicillin, chloramphenicol, cephalothin, streptomycin, sulfathiazole and tetracycline. In January 1986, investigations were conducted on a cattle farm and a pig farm close to the kennel. Of 19 bovine faeces samples 11 (57.8 per cent) were positive for Yersinia species; eight yielded Y enterocolitica and four yielded Y frederiksenii. None of the Y enterocolitica isolates belonged to serogroup 0:3. Of 20 porcine faeces samples eight (40 per cent) were positive for Yersinia species; all eight yielded Y enterocolitica and four also yielded Y pseudotuberculosis. Two of the isolates of Y frederiksenii and two of the isolates of Y enterocolitica from the farms had the following resistance patterns: ampicillin, cephalothin and streptomycin; ampicillin, streptomycin and tetracycline; ampicillin, chloramphenicol, cephalothin, streptomycin, trimethoprim-sulphamethoxazole and tetracycline; and ampicillin, chloramphenicol, cephalothin, streptomycin, sulphatiazole, trimethoprim-sulphamethoxazole and tetracycline.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Legionella pneumophila in a hospital in Torino, Italy. A retrospective one-year study.

Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 was isolated from post mortem specimens from 13 out of 58 patients with pneumonia diagnosed at autopsy. The results of a study undertaken in the hospital environment showed that the water plumbing system was colonized with L. pneumophila serogroup 1 which could also be isolated from respiratory devices filled with tap water. Control measures instituted are described.

Characteristics of Yersinia spp. isolated from wild and zoo animals.

Thirteen strains of Yersinia spp. were isolated at the Rome zoo and at Castelporziano, a game preserve near Rome. The strains were tested for calcium dependency, autoagglutination, heat-stable toxin production, 50% minimum lethal dose in mice (LD50), pyrazinamidase activity and content of plasmids by electrophoresis in agarose gel. The former three tests were negative for all strains, the LD50 was always greater than or equal to 1 X 10(7.6) CFU/ml and pyrazinamidase activity was positive for all strains. Electrophoresis revealed the presence of two plasmids of 27 and 66 megadaltons (MDa) in the two strains of Y. enterocolitica of serotype 027 isolated from animals in the zoo. The two strains of the same species and serotype, isolated from wild animals harboured a 42-MDa plasmid. A small plasmid of 2 MDa was found in two strains of Y. enterocolitica of serotype 07.8 from two subsequent samples of a zoo animal.

Fermenting ability of Yersinia spp. strains on esculin, L-fucose and D-arabitol.

The fermenting ability of 380 strains of Yersinia spp. on esculin, L-fucose and D-arabitol was studied. All the strains of Y. enterocolitica belonging to biotype 2 serotype 0:9 and to biotype 4 serotype 0:3 failed to utilize such carbohydrates; the strains belonging to the other bioserotypes as well as the strains of Y. enterocolitica-like showed different reactions.

Plasmid profiles of Legionella spp. isolates, Italy.

Plasmid analysis and restriction-endonuclease digestion were used to study 54 clinical and environmental Legionella strains. Plasmids with approximate molecular masses of 40, 50, 70, and 90 megadaltons (Mdal) have been isolated from L. pneumophila serogroup 1 strains. One L. jordanis strain contained two plasmids of 25 and 70 Mdal. Restriction analysis of clinical and related hospital-environmental isolates resulted in identical patterns. Geographic diversity is shown for strains of different origin.

Characteristics of Yersinia enterocolitica isolated from children with diarrhea in Italy.

Of 2,500 fecal samples collected from children with diarrhea in the province of Siena, 35 (1.4%) were found to be positive for Yersinia enterocolitica. Of the isolates, 94.2% belonged to biotype 4, serotype 0:3; 2.8% belonged to biotype 2, serotype O:9; and 2.8% belonged to biotype 1, serotype O:6. The in vitro pathogenicity tests showed that all but two isolates were calcium dependent and autoagglutinable and that all but one were also invasive in HEp-2 cell culture. As regards plasmid content, 32 of 33 biotype 4, serotype O:3 strains harbored a plasmid of 48 megadaltons and 1 strain also harbored a small plasmid of 2 megadaltons. The biotype 2, serotype O:9 strain harbored a plasmid of 42 megadaltons; one of the two strans lacking plasmids belonged to biotype 1, serotype O:6, and the other belonged to biotype 4, serotype O:3. Pyrazinamidase activity was positive only for the biotype 1, serotype O:6 strain. Esculin was hydrolyzed only by the biotype 1, serotype O:6 strain.

Survey of some biochemical characteristics of Yersinia sp. strains.

One hundred and fifty five strains of Yersinia sp. isolated in Italy from 1981 through 1983 were studied for their ability to utilize esculin, D-lixose, L-fucose and D-arabitol. All the strains belonging to biotype 4 serotype 3 isolated from humans failed to ferment such carbohydrates. The strains of other bioserotypes showed different biochemical reactions.

[Strains of Yersinia sp. isolated from samples of raw milk and bovine and human feces in the province of Rovigo]. / Stipiti di Yersinia sp. isolati da campioni di latte crudo e da feci bovine e umane in provincia di Rovigo.

665 samples of milk, 20 of bovine faeces, 7 of human faeces of cowherd and some water samples are examined. 44 strains of Yersinia sp. are isolated of which 16 from patients and carriers in the same area. Strains belonging to the same bioserotype have been isolated from more than one source. Possibility of reciprocal contamination is discussed.