Which organism is enhanced in recovery through cold enrichment of feces?

• A. Enterotoxigenic E. coli
• B. Salmonella paratyphi
• C. Hafnia alvei
• D. Y. enterocolitica

Answer: (D)

Yersinia enterocolitica is known to be enhanced in recovery through cold enrichment of feces due to its psychrotrophic nature, meaning it can grow at lower temperatures than many other enteric pathogens. This characteristic allows Y. enterocolitica to survive and proliferate in colder environments, such as refrigeration. When fecal samples are cold-enriched, typically at temperatures around 4°C, it favors the growth of this organism while inhibiting the growth of many other competing bacteria.

The cold enrichment process helps to isolate Y. enterocolitica more effectively, making it easier to identify in laboratory settings. This is particularly important because Y. enterocolitica can sometimes be present in low numbers, and cold enrichment enhances detection chances. Other organisms listed in the question do not share this same characteristic to the same extent and might not require or benefit from cold enrichment in the same way that Y. enterocolitica does.