[1st isolation of Yersinia enterocolitica in Algeria]

Yersinia enterocolitica has been researched in 200 samples of human stools, 40 animals excrements, 38 specimens of soils and 46 of water; the microorganism has been recovered in respectively 3.5%, 10%, 10.5% and 26% out of the total of samples examined; the strains isolated belong to different Wauter's biotype scheme but the biotype 1 is the most predominant except in soil samples. None of biotype 2 and 4, admitted to be adapted to man, has been isolated from human stools. We think that the notion of adaptation of a given biotype to a given host must be reviewed. These data, although they demonstrate the existence of yersinia enterocolitica in Algeria, because of the small number of samples examined, do not reflect exactly the real incidence of the infection caused by this microorganism.