PREVALENCE OFAMONG WILD SIKA DEER () AND BOARS () IN JAPAN.

Abstract

We examined the prevalence of, including pathogenic species such asand, among wild sika deer () and boars () captured in Japan. The prevalence ofin the wild deer was 75% (207/277) and in the boars was 74% (40/54). A total of 417 isolates of ninespecies were isolated from the animals examined: the largest number of isolates (48%, 200/417) werebiotype 1A. Pathogenic1B/O:8 were also isolated from two deer, andserogroups 3 and 4 were isolated from two boars and a deer, respectively. The pathogenic1B/O:8 isolates carried four virulence genes (,,, and), andserogroups 3 and 4 isolates carried three virulence genes (,, and). Although the1B/O:8 andisolates were sensitive to almost all the antimicrobials tested, the two1B/O:8 isolates were resistant to azithromycin and ampicillin, and the threeisolates were resistant only to azithromycin. These findings suggested that wild deer and boars might be important reservoirs for the agent causing human yersiniosis.