In recent months, several patients have come to the Prima Medica center with complaints of fever and stool disorders, and upon careful examination, yersiniosis was diagnosed. Yersiniosis is an infectious disease manifested by symptoms of enterocolitis, fever, and intoxication. In severe cases, joint pain (arthralgia) may occur and even inflammation of the joints (polyarthritis) may develop.
The causative agent of yersiniosis (Yersinia enterocolitica) has been known to science for about 50 years, but for some reason the incidence of yersinia enterocolitis has been increasing over the past two decades, and this rise has been recorded by specialists both in Europe and the USA. The increase in incidence causes concern among specialists around the world. The World Health Organization has organized a working group to study yersiniosis, led by leading scientists from the French Pasteur Institute.
The causative agent of yersiniosis is a biological relative of the most terrible microorganism – the causative agent of the plague “Yersinia pestis”. As a consolation to those who are sick, it can be noted that intestinal yersinia does not have the pathogenic power of its dangerous relative. However, this microorganism has a number of unexpected features: first of all, it is worth noting its “love” for certain types of food, such as fresh milk, ice cream, milk sauces, and the ability to reproduce at zero and negative temperatures. Even at minus 4 degrees, Yersinia enterocolitica continues to divide.
How can you become infected with yersiniosis?
Yersinia “loves” to reproduce in dairy products, but almost never colonizes cheeses and dairy products. Milk contamination occurs during its transportation and processing. Often the carriers of the microorganism are people involved in these stages of milk processing. Beneficial microorganisms involved in lactic fermentation in the production of cheeses, yogurts, kefir, prevent the development of pathogenic flora in general and Yersinia in particular. Also, semi-finished meat products, sausages and sausages can serve as a source of infection.
In addition to humans, animals can act as carriers of Yersinia. First of all – domestic cats, dogs, pigs, horses, and some species of wild animals, birds, and, oddly enough, even frogs, fish and such a representative insect as the flea. As a reassurance to pet lovers, yersiniosis is not a zoonotic infection and is not transmitted from animals to humans. A person becomes infected through food, with the most common source of infection being vegetables and products made from them.
Both cultivated and uncultivated soils are infested with various species of Yersinia, which explains their abundance in plant products. Among vegetables, beets, carrots, radishes, tomatoes, lettuce, parsley, cabbage, and mushrooms are most susceptible to infection. The number of bacteria increases in grated carrots and chopped vegetables. Bacteria of the genus Yersinia also reproduce at subzero temperatures. Their growth slows down under these conditions, but at a temperature of -4C, the reproduction of competing microorganisms completely stops, while intestinal Yersinia continues to divide and displace competitors.
When it enters a living, sensitive organism, the pathogenic power of Yersinia increases, especially if it previously developed at a low temperature, since low temperatures contribute to the selection of especially aggressive strains of the microorganism.
Refrigerator disease
When the life cycle and unusual abilities of the causative agent of yersinia were well studied, it became clear to scientists why the first massive outbreaks of the disease began in the second half of the twentieth century – since the 60s, household refrigerators have become widely used, in which there are ideal conditions for the development and reproduction of yersinia .
In addition, over the past decades, the tradition of frequent visits to cafes and restaurants has spread. Dishes served in public catering are often prepared from products that have been stored for a long time in industrial refrigerators.
Therefore, it is not surprising that outbreaks of intestinal yersiniosis have been recorded more and more often in different countries since the second half of the twentieth century.
If yersiniosis occurs
In most cases, the infection does not require antibacterial treatment. For moderate, severe or protracted cases, antibiotics are usually prescribed. All patients are advised to remain in bed until acute symptoms subside and drink plenty of fluids to replenish lost fluids.