[Immunopathological complications in enteric yersiniosis: incidence and serological diagnosis (author's transl)].

Using the Widal reaction, significant titres against Yersinia enterocolitica, O-group I and V, were found in 300 of 2843 patients (10.5%) with reactive arthritis or arthralgia, and in 38 (1.3%) against Y. pseudotuberculosis type I to V. Of 510 patients with erythema nodosum 86 (16.9%) and 30 (5.9%), respectively, had significant agglutinin titres against one or the other. The results confirm the aetiological significance of Y. pseudotuberculosis, type I to V, in reactive arthritis and erythema nodosum, as well as the essential saturation of patient sera especially with Salmonella of the B or D group in the demonstration of significant antibody titres against Y. pseudotuberculosis, type II and IV. Complement-fixation tests cannot be recommended for the diagnosis of enteric Yersiniosis and its complications. Only in 201 of 554 serum samples (36.3%) with significant agglutinin titres against Y. enterocolitica O-group I and V (0 : 3 and 0 : 9 after Winblad) did the results of the Widal reaction and the microcomplement-fixation reaction agree, titres apart.