Mouse Models of Yersiniosis.

Yersiniosis is common foodborne gastrointestinal disease caused by the enteric pathogens Yersinia enterocolitica and Yersinia pseudotuberculosis. The mouse model of oral infection serves as a useful tool to study enteropathogenic Yersinia infection in mammals. The following protocol describes two distinct oral infection methods: the commonly used oral gavage method in which the bacterial inoculum is instilled directly into the mouse stomach using a feeding needle, and an alternative method in which mice are fed bread soaked with Yersinia culture.