[Septicaemia caused by Yersinia enterocolitica (author's transl)]

Yersinia enterocolitica (serotype 3 of Winblad, or O-group 1 of Knapp) was isolated from two blood cultures of a 52-year-old patient with chronic hepatitis, pancytopenia and paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria who had been hospitalised because of septic temperatures and chills. The serum-agglutinin titre was 1:10.000 both against the isolated strain and a reference strain (MyO; serotype 3). The titre had decreased to 1:2.500 and 1:640, respectively, in serum samples taken ten and 40 days later. The causative organism was not isolated from stool specimens, but the patient had been treated with antibiotics. Strains identical biochemically, serologically and by lysotypi-g were found in the stool specimens of the patient's wife and dog. The agglutinin titres were 1:320 in the wife and 1:20 in the dog. A son, who was living in the same house, had a negative stool culture and serology.