Ecology and geographic distribution of Yersinia enterocolitica among livestock and wildlife in China.

•The prevalence of Y. enterocolitica varies in different animal species and regions.•The highest prevalence is from pigs, dogs, and majority isolates were pathogenic.•The elevation, precipitation and air temperature are associated with Y. enterocolitica in animals.•Novel Y. enterocolitica was isolated from Microtus fuscus on plague foci.•Identical PFGE pattern from animals and patients suggested the source of infection.