Detection of pathogenic Yersinia enterocolitica using a digoxigenin labelled probe targeting the yst gene

A 145 base pair digoxigenin-d-UTP-labelled probe, specific for pathogenic Yersinia enterocolitica heat-stable enterotoxin yst gene, was prepared by PCR. The probe was used in DNA-DNA colony hybridization and dot-blot hybridization assays. The specificity of the probe was confirmed using 52 strains representing all Yersinia spp., except Y. pestis. Out of a total of 25 Y. enterocolitica strains screened, the probe correctly identified all 18 pathogenic strains. Among the other Yersinia spp. screened, only one strain of Y. kristensenii was positively detected by the yst probe but could be differentiated by its weak signal response as compared with that obtained by pathogenic strains of Y. enterocolitica.