Long-term fecal excretion and resistance induced in mice infected with Yersinia enterocolitica.

European isolates of Yersinia enterocolitica serotypes O3 and O9 were shown to infect but not kill mice, which became fecal excreters for up to 135 days. The mice challenged with 500 50% lethal doses of the virulent WA strain of Y. enterocolitica serotype O8 survived, and some excreted the virulent strain. This rodent model may be of value in assessing the ecological significance of rodents in the maintenance of Y. enterocolitica.