Two outbreaks of Yersinia pseudotuberculosis 5a infection in Japan

In the summer of 1984 there occurred 2 outbreaks of infection with Yersinia pseudotuberculosis 5a. 58 persons ate meat products, vegetables and rice at a Japanese barbecue restaurant. 39/58 (67%) developed symptoms. In 19/39 persons an infection with Y. pseudotuberculosis could be diagnosed by stool cultures and/or serological techniques. Fever occurred in all patients, exanthema in 68% and abdominal pain in 68%. Thus, human yersiniosis due to Y. pseudotuberculosis 5a could be a febrile disease with exanthema and gastrointestinal disturbances. A transient acute renal failure developed around the 10th day of illness in 4 children. The source and mode of spread of this infection could not be clarified.