Pseudotuberculosis in the Russian Federation

Abstract

The aim of this work was to study the particular features of the epidemiological manifestation of pseudotuberculosis and the use of molecular genetic methods for the microbiological monitoring of Yersinia pseudotuberculosis in Russia. Epidemiological and bacteriological analyses, genoserotyping, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the detection of the virulence genes and ELISA for the determination of specific antibodies (IgG) were used. Approximately 6,000 infections are registered annually. Most cases are registered in Siberia (67%), followed by the European region (26%) and the Far East (7%). In the last 10 years, 27 large outbreaks have been reported, generally among children and adolescents attending kindergartens and schools. Serological screening of professional groups revealed that antibodies to Y. pseudotuberculosis are significantly more frequently detected in meat production workers involved in slaughter and butchering activities (5%). The diagnosis of this disease is confirmed by isolation by culturing in 8% of patients, PCR in 21%, and ELISA in 72%. Ninety-five percent of isolated strains belonged to serotype O:1b, and these strains harbored YPMa/c but not HPI or YAPI. The diseases caused by the two-plasmid (pVM 82 MDa and pYV) bearing strains were associated with more frequent complications, including the development of symptoms of intoxication, infection of the organs of the gastrointestinal tract and the liver, and joint damage, than strains harboring only the plasmid pYV. Based on the results of this study, laboratory and epidemiological diagnostics procedures have been suggested. © 2012 Springer Science+Business Media New York.