Efficient subtyping of pathogenic Yersinia enterocolitica strains by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis

Yersinia enterocolitica is an enteropathogen that has recently and rapidly expanded over the world. There is a close correlation between the biotypes, serotypes, and phage types of the strains, making it virtually impossible to distinguish isolates of the same serotype with the classical phenotypic markers. In the present study, pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) was used to compare the NotI genomic profile (i.e., pulsotype) of 20 strains each of serotypes O:3, O:9, and O:5. Eleven, 12, and 18 different pulsotypes were obtained, respectively, indicating that this technique is very efficient for subtyping pathogenic isolates of Y. enterocolitica. Within strains of serotype O:5, PFGE differentiated two subgroups that corresponded to two biotypes (biotypes 1A and 3). Comparison of the pulsotypes of three strains of biotype 3 and serotype O:3 (referred to as 3/O:3) with those of strains 4/O:3 and 3/O:5 suggested that the pulsotype is closer to the biotype than to the serotype. The pulsotypes of five pairs of strains isolated from the same patient or siblings were also analyzed. In four pairs, the two strains displayed identical pulsotypes, indicating that PFGE might be a powerful epidemiological tool. In the fifth pair, one restriction fragment differed, suggesting that genomic polymorphism may occur in vivo in Y. enterocolitica. Finally, the in vitro genomic stabilities of one strain each of Y. enterocolitica O:3, O:9, and O:5 were investigated. The pulsotypes of 10 isolated colonies were identical within each strain, indicating that in vitro, the genome of Y. enterocolitica is much more stable than that of Y. pestis.