PIG HERDS FREE FROM YERSINIA ENTEROCOLITICA-DREAM OR REALITY?

摘要

IntroductionYersinia enterocolitica is an important cause of gastroenteritis in humans in the developed world, especially in temperate countries. As the consequences of yersiniosis are severe, and might include prolonged acute infections, pseudoappendicitis, and long-term sequelae such as reactive arthritis, the financial and public health effects of yersiniosis are of greater magnitude than the actual number of cases would suggest. In a case-control study, raw or undercooked pork have been identified as the main source of this infection in Norway (Ostroff et al., 1994), and Y. enterocolitica serovar O:3/biovar 4 seems to be common in the Norwegian pig population (Nesbakken, 1992; Skjerve at al., 1998). Thus, the ability to eliminate this agent from pig herds would be an important step in producing Human Pathogen Free (HPF) pork. The aim of this study was to investigate if it is possible to establish and keep a cluster of pig herds free from Y. enterocolitica O:3/biovar 4.