Ecological studies of Yersinia enterocolitica. II. Experimental infection with Y. enterocolitica in pigs.

Fattening pigs were inoculated with the human pathogenic strains of Yersinia enterocolitica, biovar 4 serovar 3 phagovar 8 and biovar 2 serovar 5.27. Each pig received 2.6 X 10(9) organisms by catheter into the stomach and thereafter 10% sodium bicarbonate solution, by the same route. The serovar 3 strain became established in the intestines of four out of six 11-week-old pigs and in all three 24-week-old pigs. Serovar 5.27 established in the intestines of all four 10-week-old pigs. In these pigs, both serovars were excreted in the feces at 10(2)-10(6) cells g-1 for a few weeks. However, the serovar 5.27 was excreted in the feces at less than 10(3.3) cells g-1 for 2 weeks by 24-week-old pigs. Horizontal transmission with the serovar 5.27 strain was observed on the 5th-11th day, and the bacteria were present in the intestines during the 2nd week. However, the serum titers to O-agglutinin were 1/10 and less, but in one pig, the titer was 1/40 against serovar 5.27 strain.