Biotyping and antibiotic resistance profile of Yersinia enterocolitica associated with seafoods from South-west Coast of India

This study reports occurrence of Yersinia enterocolitica biotype 1A strains resistant to ampicillin, cephalothin and sulphamethizole in fish and shellfish species landed in southwest coast of India. Thirty finfish and shellfish samples collected from various sources such as farms, retail outlets and landing centres in south-west coast of India were examined for the presence of Y. enterocolitica. Sixty three Yersinia strains were isolated and characterized. Y. intermedia was the most commonly isolated species. Y. enterocolitica biotype 1A was recovered from squid, but did not belong to the pathogenic serogroups O:3, O:5, O:8 or O:9. The antibiotic susceptibility tests of the isolated Y. enterocolitica strains revealed that these strains were resistant (100%) to ampicillin, cephalothin and sulphamethizole. As determined through PCR analysis the Y. enterocolitica isolates from squid carried inv genes, but were negative for ail and yst genes.