Application of a simplified method for recovery of Yersinia enterocolitica from surface waters.

Yersinia enterocolitica was recovered from surface water by a simplified method: samples were taken by means of the Moore tampon and, after a short, warm preincubation in peptone-sorbitol-bile salts broth, were quickly passed to an alkali solution. Immediately after this, samples were directly plated on MacConkey agar. Y. enterocolitica was isolated from 60% of the water samples, and the identification confirmation of the strains chosen was 100%.