The article describes the toxigenicity of Yersinia enterocolitica strains isolated from sick animals, livestock, products of slaughter of animals, food products and also from environmental objects. The are1234 samples of materials were studied, of which 87 strains of Yersinia – 64 – Yersinia enterocolitica and 23 – Yersinia spp. were isolated. Eight strains (30.8%) isolated from pig slaughter products and 4 strains (26.7%) isolated from cattle slaughter products were agglutinated with rabbit blood serum antibodies synthesized by virulent Yersinia strains enterocolitica. When studying the cytotoxic properties of 64 strains of Y. enterocolitica on a Vero cell culture, 45 (70.3%) strains were found to be cytotoxic. Of these highly toxicogenic – 2 strains (4.4%). An average degree of cytotoxicity was shown by 10 strains (22.3%), 22 (48.9%) were low-toxic and 11 (24.4%) were non-toxic. All Y. enterocolitica strains isolated from sick animals and the majority of strains isolated from pig slaughter products (63.6%) and calves (55%), as well as milk and dairy products (71.3%), turned out to be cytotoxic. Among the studied 20 strains of Y. enterocolitica, expressive enterotoxigenicity was found in 11 (55%). The latter led to a significant accumulation of fluid in isolated sections of the intestines of guinea pigs (index ID ≥ 1). Further study of the ability of toxin formation by various naturally circulating strains of Y. enterocolitica will contribute to the development of effective therapeutic and prophylactic agents and the establishment of a reliable monitoring system for yersiniosis infection in humans and animals
toxigenicity, cytotoxicity, enterotoxigenicity, Yersinia enterocolitica, Vero