Yersinia enterocoliticaO:3 Infections in Infants and Children, Associated with the Household Preparation of Chitterlings

FIRST described as a human pathogen 50 years ago,1 Yersinia enterocolitica has become a major cause of diarrhea in much of the industrialized world. In Scandinavia, Japan, Canada, and parts of Europe, the isolation rates of Y. enterocolitica from patients with gastroenteritis rival those of salmonella.2 3 4 5 6 In these countries, Y. enterocolitica O:3 is the predominant serotype and appears to have an important reservoir in pigs.7 8 9 10 In Belgium, the country with the highest incidence of yersiniosis, Y. enterocolitica O:3 infections have been linked to the ingestion of raw pork.11 In the United States, the epidemiology of yersiniosis is poorly understood. The . . .