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Abstract: Yersinia enterocolitica (Y. enterocolitica) is a known zoonotic pathogen and is often found in pig tonsils as the primary site of colonisation. In this study we investigated whether or not Y. enterocolitica could be recovered from canine tonsils. During a study on the prevalence of Y. enterocolitica in animal populations in Ireland, 144 canine tonsils and 72 canine rectal swabs were procured over a ten-month period and subjected to microbiological examination for the presence of this human pathogen. Molecular methods were used to determine virulence and all strains were negative for the chromosomally mediated virulence factor (ail) and plasmid-encoded adhesion molecule (pYad). Y. enterocolitica was recovered from 25 of 216 (12%) samples. Twenty-four strains were from tonsils along with one from a rectal swab. All were biotype 1A. Antimicrobial resistance profiling showed two of 25 (8%) were resistant to cephalothin and the remaining strains were resistant to ampicillin and cephalothin with six of these additionally resistant to streptomycin. Our evidence that a human pathogen may be harboured in the oral cavity of dogs’ adds a new dimension to the epidemiology of this organism, identifying a potential public health risk following exposure to dogs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A Gram-stain-negative, rod-shaped strain isolated from pig-production environments was identified as a new species within the genus Yersinia using multifaceted genomic and biochemical approaches. The genome of this strain was closed using a hybrid assembly approach combining both high accuracy short read sequencing data with long read sequencing technology. Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene showed ~98 % similarity to Yersinia kristensenii and ~98 % similarity to Yersinia enterocolitica. Average nucleotide identity (OrthoANI) values were calculated as 85.79 % to Y. kristensenii ATCC 33638 T and 85.73 % to Y. enterocolitica ATCC 9610 T thereby providing evidence that this isolate should be considered as a novel species. The type strain is CFS1934 T (=NCTC 14222 T =LMG 31076 T ).

The presence of microbiological hazards in foodstuffs including, Salmonella, form a major source of food-borne diseases in humans. In-line milk filters from 97 liquid milk production holdings in Cork, the largest dairy region in Ireland, were surveyed for the presence of Salmonella species at herd level over a 2-year period (September 2001-September 2003). Each dairy farm was visited 6 times at 4 monthly intervals (denoted by cycles A-F). Six of the 97 herds (6%) were positive. Ten isolates were detected based on culture methods. These included five (5%) Salmonella Typhimurium DT104, 4 (4%) Salmonella Dublin, and 1 (1%) Salmonella Agona from a total of 556 filters. During cycle C, in addition to the milk filters, a bulk tank milk (BTM) sample was procured from each dairy holding and analysed but no Salmonella were isolated. For comparison purposes a further 26 temporal veterinary clinical isolates (21 S. Typhimurium of varying phage type, and 5 S. Dublin) were procured from the Cork Veterinary Clinical Diagnostic Laboratory, Cork. The study collection showed resistance to one or more antimicrobial agents. During the study, Salmonella spp. were isolated from five of the herds prior to any clinical signs in the farm animals. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) profiles indicated clonality among the isolates pre- and post-clinical illness. A phenotypic and genotypic database for Salmonella spp. has been developed and used for comparative purposes.

Escherichia coli O157 is a major etiological agent of food-borne illness. Bovine animals are recognized reservoirs for this organism and represent a significant source from where these pathogens can enter the food chain. Food products derived from these animals are convenient vehicles, and are often the focal point(s) of infection. As a useful strategy to provide herd-level surveillance and to investigate for the presence of this pathogen in a population of Irish dairy cattle, milk filters from 97 farms were analysed by conventional culture and other methods. Five hundred and thirty-six milk filters were evaluated over a 2-year period. Filters from 12 of the 97 farms (12%) were found to contain E. coli O157, based on culture methods. Sixteen verocytotoxigenic E. coli O157 organisms were recovered and characterized in detail. The farm families in each case were consuming raw milk from their respective herds. The potential risk to public health associated with the detection of E. coli O157 and the local consumption of raw milk are discussed.