Yersinia enteritis and Crohn’a disease

Although there is no evidence for an etiologic link between Yersinia infection and the idiopathic chronic inflammatory bowel disease known as Crohn’s disease, a comparison of the two disorders is worthwhile from at least two standpoints. First, both entities must be considered in the differential diagnosis of the syndrome of “acute terminal ileitis”. Second, clarification of the pathophysiologic mechanisms involved in Yersinia enteritis, for which there exist good experimental models, may provide helpful insights into the pathogenesis of Crohn’s disease.