Occurrence of Yersinia enterocolitica in the Tokyo Tama Zoo

Yersinia enterocolitica serogroups O5A and O8 were isolated from fecal samples of one colony of Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata) from the Tokyo Tama Zoo (Japan). Serogroup O5A was detected in brown bear (Ursus arctos) prior to the isolation from the macaques. Serogroup O5A organisms also were isolated from the Japanese macaques' breeding area. Serogroup O5A and OS isolates were not pathogenic. Serogroup OS isolates did not possess the O7 or O19 antigens.