Geographical Heterogeneity between Far Eastern and Western Countries in Prevalence of the Virulence Plasmid, the SuperantigenYersinia pseudotuberculosis-Derived Mitogen, and the High-Pathogenicity Island amongYersinia pseudotuberculosisStrains

Abstract

Yersinia pseudotuberculosis produces novel superantigenic toxins designated YPMa ( Y. pseudotuberculosis -derived mitogen), YPMb, and YPMc and has a pathogenicity island termed HPI (high-pathogenicity island) and R-HPI (the right-hand part of the HPI with truncation in its left-hand part) on the chromosome. Analysis of the distribution of these virulence factors allowed for differentiation of species Y. pseudotuberculosis into six subgroups, thus reflecting the geographical spread of two main clones: the YPMa + HPI − Far Eastern systemic pathogenic type belonging to serotypes O1b, -2a, -2b, -2c, -3, -4a, -4b, -5a, -5b, -6, -10, and UT (untypeable) and the YPMs − HPI + European gastroenteric pathogenic type belonging to serotypes O1a and -1b. The YPMa + HPI + pathogenic type belonging to serotypes O1b, -3, -5a, -5b, and UT and the YPMb + HPI − nonpathogenic type belonging to non-melibiose-fermenting serotypes O1b, -5a, -5b, -6, -7, -9, -10, -11, and -12 were prevalent in the Far East. The YPMc + R-HPI + European low-pathogenicity type belonging to non-melibiose-fermenting serotype O3 and the YPMs − HPI − pathogenic type belonging to 15 serotypes were found to be prevalent all over the world. This new information is useful for a better understanding of the evolution and spread of Y. pseudotuberculosis.

Experimental kinetics of infection induced by Yersinia pseudotuberculosis isolated from stock animals

“…The present results also confirm the interdependence between virulence markers located on the pYV plasmid and on the chromosome for the full expression of Y. pseudotuberculosis disease, as previously reported by Carniel (2001) and Fukushima et al (2001).…”

Ribotyping and virulence markers of Yersinia pseudotuberculosis strains isolated from animals in Brazil

“…In a previous in vivo infection kinetics study, these two samples exhibited higher pathogenicity since they were more virulent and invasive than biotype 2 and serogroup O:3 strains (Martins & Falcão 2004). Fukushima et al (2001), studying 2235 Y. pseudotuberculosis strains of various bioserotypes and origins isolated from different regions of the planet, showed that all strains of the O:1a serotype exhibited a complete HPI.…”

“…Table II shows the primers used for the detection of the HPI genes and the size (in base pairs = bp) of the expected product. Y. pseudotuberculosis PB1 (serotype O1a) (Fukushima et al 2001) was used as positive control. Reactions without DNA as template were used as negative controls.…”

Acute toxoplasmosis in three wild arctic foxes (Alopex lagopus) from Svalbard; one with co-infections of Salmonella Enteritidis PT1 and Yersinia pseudotuberculosis serotype 2b

“…It has been shown that virulent Y. pseudotuberculosis can cause immunosuppression in laboratory mice (Simonet and Berche, 1986;Sing et al, 2002). Yersinia pseudotuberculosis is widely distributed in cold regions, and is classified as serotypes O1 to O14, in which the serotypes O1 to O5 are almost all pathogenic to humans (Fukoshima et al, 2001). The bacteria can infect many mammals and birds, with formation of characteristic caseonecrotic foci and pyogranulomatous lesions in viscera and lymphoid tissue (Valli, 1985).…”