Of importance to the epidemiology of Yersinia infections is the fact that these bacteria can replicate at refrigerator temperatures . Sequelae may include arthritis and septicemia. Y. enterocolitica may also present as a pseudo-appendicitis.
Most cases are foodborne as opposed to via direct contact with infected animals.
For instance, serotype 1 was associated with epizootics of disease in chinchillas in the 1960s and serotype 2 can cause septicemia in hares, but neither of these serotypes appear to infect humans. Serotypes 3 and 9, however, the most common serotypes isolated from humans, are also the serotypes common to dogs, cats and pigs. Infection in dogs is generally subclinical, but they may develop bloody diarrhea. A study by Funk et al. Y. pseudotuberculosis infection causes a systemic, pyogranulomatous disease in cats.