The Prevalence of Pathogenic Yersinia Enterocolitica among Diarrhea Patients in Jos, Nigeria

Abstract

One hundred and fifty (150) stool samples from diarrhoeic children and adults seeking for medical attention (including hospitalized patients) in Vom Christain Hospital (VCH), Mandela Clinic (MC) Vom and Dagott Family Health Clinic (DFHC) Vom were screened for Yersinia enterocolitica infection between August 2005 and August 2006. The isolation methods adopted were direct plating on MacConkey Agar (MCA), Deoxycholate Citrate Agar (DCA) and cold enrichment method using phosphate buffered saline prior to subculture onto selective solid culture media (Cefsulodin Irgasan Novobiocin [CIN] agar). Out of the 150 samples screened, 6 (15%) were positive. The incidence of the infection was highest among those aged 1 - 10 years 3 (7.5%), followed by 21 - 31 years 2 (5%) and 11 - 20 years 1 (2.5%). Serotyped and biotyped, pathogenic Y. enterocolitica (2/O: 9. 4/O: 9) were susceptible to ciprofloxin, floxavid, streptomycin and tetracycline.