Survey on the incidence of Yersinia enterocolitica infection in Canada

Data pertaining to 278 cultures of Yersinia enterocolitica isolated in Canada are summarized in this paper. Of this amount, 256 were isolated from humans, whereas 22 were of nonhuman sources. The typing of these cultures is presented together with their geographical location. Y. enterocolitica serotype O:3 biotype 4, phage type 9b, was practically the only serotype present in the Province of Quebec. This serotype O:3 was also predominant in Ontario, followed by serotypes O:5,27 and O:6,30; other serotypes were seldom isolated. In the central and western areas of Canada, Y. enterocolitica was occasionally isolated; the strains were indole-positive, serotypes O:5,27, O:8, and O:4,32.