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23 24Yersinia enterocolitica biotype 1A strains are frequently isolated from the environment, foods 25 and animals but also from humans with yersiniosis. There are controversial reports on the 26 pathogenicity of biotype 1A strains. In this study, 811 fecal samples from asymptomatic 27 humans from Switzerland were studied for the presence of Y. enterocolitica. Nine (

The genus Yersinia currently includes species, of which Y. enterocolitica and Y. pseudotuberculosis are enteropathogenic. The identification of Y. enterocolitica in particular is very demanding, because it consists of a group of very heterogeneous bacteria, including pathogenic and non-pathogenic strains. The aim of the review is to provide recent information on the characteristics and identification of Yersinia spp. and sources of enteropathogenic Yersinia spp. Identification of Yersinia spp. is still mainly based on biochemical tests and serotyping, but molecular methods have increasingly also been used. Sequencing the whole genome enables more accurate identification of enteropathogenic Yersinia spp. Pathogenic Y. enterocolitica strains of different bioserotypes have newly been identified from various animal sources. Moreover, the virulence gene ail has been detected in non-pathogenic Yersinia strains, especially from wild animals. Correct identification of pathogenic Yersinia strains is essential in assessing the health risk for humans and animals.