Isolation of Yersinia enterocolitica and Yersinia intermedia from wastewaters and their biochemical and serological characteristics

Yersinia enterocolitica, an important food- and water-borne enteric pathogen was isolated from wastewater samples collected in and around the national capital territory of Delhi, All Y. enterocolitica isolates belonged to biotype 1A, Among these, O:6,30-6,31 was the predominant serotype, Serotypes O:10-34; O:6,31; O:15; O:41, 42 and O:41, 43 were also isolated. Except for two non-agglutinable isolates belonging to biotype 1 and 2, all Y. intermedin isolated were of serotype O:40 (biotype 4), Majority of the Y. intermedia isolates were rhamnose negative, representing the rare biotype. This study reports occurrence of Y. enterocolitica and Y, intermedia in wastewaters in India and highlights the need for further surveillance studies on Y, enterocolitica in understanding the global epidemiology of such emerging pathogens.