Vol. 9, Issue 11, Part B (2025)

Yersinia enterocolitica is an emerging foodborne pathogen having worldwide public health concern. The present study was undertaken to characterize Yersinia enterocolitica from porcine origin using conventional and molecular methods, virulence gene profile and antibiogram. A total number of 302 samples from different parts of pig carcasses were procured from different areas in and around Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh which includes farms, retail shops and home butcheringand 44 hand swabs from personnel engaged in slaughter. Isolation and identification of Yersinia enterocolitica was done by conventional methods. The molecular characterization of Yersinia enterocolitica and gene profiling was performed using PCR and antibiogram by Kirby-Bauer method. The highest prevalence was observed in farms (32%) followed by home butchered pigs (21%) and retail meat shops (7.6%). Whereas, thigh muscle, lung, tongue, mesenteric lymph nodes and hand swabs has shown 27% and 16% in neck muscle. Out of 76 PCR confirmed Yersinia enterocolitica isolates, the percentage positivity forail gene was (7.8%),Yst Agene (14.4%) and Yad A gene (7.8%). All the three virulence genes were found in 30.3% of isolates. Antibiogram against 10 different antibiotics has shown maximum resistance to Azithromycin (98%), and the maximum sensitivity to Gentamicin (98%).