Epidemiology, virulence and public health significance of Yersinia enterocolitica in drinking water

Yersinia enterocolitica, an important food and water-borne enteropathogen cause acute diarrhoea, terminal ileitis and mesenteric lymphadenitis. This study investigated the occurrence, antibiotic sensitivity and virulence factors of yersinial isolates from drinking water samples from Ludhiana, Punjab, India. A total of 418 drinking water samples from various water utilities were analyzed for occurrence of Y. enterocoliitica and faecal coliforms (Escherichia coli). Y. enterocolitica was detected in 78.09% of Municipal Corporation (MC) drinking water samples, 59.02% Submersible pump drinking water samples and 53.12% of Hand pump samples where as E. coli was found in 53.71% of Municipal Corporation (MC) drinking water samples, 29.16% Submersible pump drinking water samples and 8% of samples from Hand pumps. There was no positive correlation between the simultaneous occurrence of Y. enterocolitica and E. coli (P 0.2). These results highlight the pathogenic potential of Y. enterocolitica which poses a public health concern.