Outbreak of yersiniosis in Egyptian rousette bats (Rousettus aegyptiacus) caused by Yersinia pseudotuberculosis serotype 4b.

This report describes an outbreak of yersiniosis in Egyptian rousette bats (Rousettus aegyptiacus) caused by Yersinia pseudotuberculosis serotype 4b. Twelve of 61 bats died between November and December 2008 or in May 2009. The bats often displayed multiple yellow-white nodules in the spleen and liver. Microscopically, these consisted of focal necrosis accompanied by inflammatory cell infiltration and colonies of gram-negative bacilli. The bacterial colonies were identified immunohistochemically as Y. pseudotuberculosis O4 and Y. pseudotuberculosis serotype 4b was identified by bacteriological examination. Polymerase chain reaction demonstrated that the isolate harboured the virulence genes virF, inv and ypmA. YPMa is as a superantigenic toxin that is associated with acute systemic infection in man and may contribute to the virulence of Y. pseudotuberculosis in bats.

Pathological changes in captive monkeys with spontaneous yersiniosis due to infection by Yersinia enterocolitica serovar O8.

An outbreak of fatal yersiniosis due to infection with Yersinia enterocolitica serovar O8 is documented in two species of captive monkey. Five of 50 squirrel monkeys (Saimiri sciureus) and one of two agile gibbons (Hylobates agilis) died following several days of diarrhoea. Necropsy examination revealed necrotizing enterocolitis and multifocal necrosis or abscesses in various organs. Microscopically, these lesions comprised multifocal necrosis with bacterial colonies, neutrophils and accumulation of nuclear debris. Occasional lesions included macrophages and abscess formation. Immunohistochemically, the bacteria were identified as Y. enterocolitica O8. In addition, Y. enterocolitica serotype O8 was isolated from animal organs in pure culture. This is the first report of fatal cases of infection with Y. enterocolitica serovar O8 in animals.

[Epidemiological studies on the symptoms due to strawberry culture in the vinyl-house. 1. An analysis of subjective symptoms by working conditions and constitution of the farmers (author's transl)].

An epidemiological survey focused on farmers engaged in vinyl-house culture of strawberry was carried out among the inhabitants of a farming village. For avoiding residential and habitual factors, all residents (851 in number) over 12 years of age in the area were inquired about symptoms, personal and family histories. There were no marked difference in age and sex among three groups, i.e. farmers with and without vinyl-house culture and people with no relation to farming in this area. Incidence of one of the inquired symptoms were 54% and 45% in farmers with and without strawberry culture in vinyl-house respectively, and 34% in the non-farming people. This difference became more larger up to 83% in the strawberry farmers of allergic constitution. Symptoms found more in the farmers than the other were headache, dizziness, conjunctivitis, rhinorrea, sneeze, palpitation and neuralgia, and the last four symptoms were more marked among farmers in charge of strawberry culture. Incidence of the allergic symptom consisting of conjunctivitis, rhinorrea and sneeze was more marked among the persons of allergic constitution . In conclusion, health effects of strawberry culture in vinyl-house in farmers can be look upon from three aspects; overwork, a particular stance during the work and allergic responses to the dust in the vinyl-house.

[Epidemiological studies on the symptoms due to strawberry culture in the vinyl-house. 2. An analysis of clinical examinations with emphasis on allergic response (author's transl)].

Clinical mass surveys were carried out on the residents to whom questionnaires on symptoms with reference to strawberry culture in the vinyl-house had been delivered. Two hundred and eleven persons attended at the first survey in September, 1976 (off the season of strawberry culture) and the 58 attended at the second survey in March, 1977 (within the season). The participants of the first survey consisted of three groups, i.e. farmers with and without strawberry culture and people without farming. The participants of the second survey consisted only of farmers with strawberry culture. Results are summarized as follows. 1) There were no difference of incidence of various clinical findings detected by an ophthalmologist and otolaryngologists among the three groups. 2) There were also no difference of incidence of abnormal findings in urine tests, liver functions, respiratory test, blood examinations and blood pressure test among the three groups. However, the comparison of persons in charge of strawberry culture and attended at both tof the first and the second surveys, such changes were detected as increases in the value of GOT (within normal limits), of stab neutrophiles, lymphocytes and of monocytes within the season of strawberry culture. 3) Increases of positive rates in skintest by extracts of house dust and Candida sp. were observed in the farmers with and without strawberry culture. Positive rates of skintest by strawberry pollen and honey bee extracts among the farmers with strawberry culture were markedly higher than the allergic patients in Dokkyo Hospital having no relation to this culture. This positive rate was markedly elevated among the persons who complained the symptom of rhinorrea within the season.