Interaction of Yersinia enterocolitica biotype 1A strains of diverse origin with cultured cells in vitro.

Yersinia enterocolitica biotype 1A isolates are increasingly being associated with diarrhea. However, the mechanism of their pathogenicity is not well understood. In the present study interaction of Y. enterocolitica isolates with CHO cells, HEp-2 cells and J774 mouse macrophages was studied. Y. enterocolitica biotype 1A strains of clinical origin invaded CHO and HEp-2 cells to a significantly higher degree than non-clinical isolates. However, among non-clinical isolates, Y. enterocolitica strains of swine origin showed significantly more invasion in CHO and HEp-2 cells than water isolates. Y. enterocolitica isolates from clinical samples exhibited a greater level of survival in macrophages than isolates from non-clinical sources. It may be construed that Y. enterocolitica biotype 1A isolates of clinical and swine origin have higher virulence potential than those from other sources.