在欧洲、加拿大、日本和美国都报道了与小肠结肠炎耶尔森氏菌(简称耶氏菌,下同)所致的胃肠炎的暴发率有所增加。污染的食品如猪肉、牛肉、生奶或奶制品都被确认为传染源,另外,饮用水亦可作为传染源。挪威从饮用水和鳟鱼中已经分离到典型的耶氏菌;美国在各种与地面水有接触的动物,包括牛、猪、羊、狗、鹿、水貂、海狸、鹅、鼠、蛙和蜗牛等,都能从它们的粪便和组织中分离到典型菌株。美国和加拿大曾从地面水中分离到耶氏菌;纽约 In Europe, Canada, Japan and the United States have reported an increase in the incidence of gastroenteritis caused by Yersinia enterocolitica (referred to as Yersinia, the same below). Contaminated foods such as pork, beef, raw milk or dairy products are identified as sources of infection, and drinking water can be used as a source of infection. Typical strains of Yersinia have been isolated from drinking water and trout in the United States; the United States has been exposed to various species of groundwater-contact animals including cattle, pigs, sheep, dogs, deer, minks, beavers, geese, rats, frogs and Snails, etc., can isolate typical strains from their faeces and tissues. Yersinia from the surface water was isolated in the United States and Canada; New York