Yersinia pseudotuberculosis Prevalence and Diversity in Wild Boars in Northeast Germany

Yersinia pseudotuberculosis is a foodborne pathogen whose occurrence is poorly understood. One reason for this situation is the difficulty in isolating the species. The methods developed for the isolation ofYersinia enterocolitica are not well suited forY. pseudotuberculosis . We therefore designed a protocol which enabled the isolation ofY. pseudotuberculosis from a relatively high proportion of PCR-positive wild boar tonsils. The study indicates that wild boars in northeast Germany may carry a variety ofY. pseudotuberculosis strains, which differ in terms of their pathogenic potential and other properties. Since wild boars are widely distributed in German forests and even populate cities such as Berlin, they may transmit yersiniae to other animals and crop plants and may thus cause human infections through the consumption of contaminated food. Therefore, the prevalence ofY. pseudotuberculosis should be determined also in other animals and regions to learn more about the natural reservoir of this species.