The incidence of Yersinia enterocolitica and Yersinia enterocolitica-like bacteria in goats milk in Northern Ireland

Fifty samples of retail goats milk were analysed for the total number of viable bacteria present and the incidence of Yersinia spp. Both were found to be producerdependent. Overall, 26% of samples contained Yersinia spp. These were mainly Yersinia enterocolitica but Y. intermedia were also isolated. Pre‐enrichment of samples in trypticase‐soy broth (TSB) followed by selective enrichment in a bileoxalate‐sorbose medium was considerably superior to prolonged cold enrichment in TSB for the isolation of Yersinia spp.