The presence of hexokinase, aldolase, glyceraldehyde-phosphate dehydrogenase, phosphoglycerate kinase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase has been detected in Y. enterocolitica, which indicates the glycolytic and pentosophosphate pathways of glucose catabolism. Y. enterocolitica can be classified as an opportunistic anaerobic microorganism on the basis of the whole complex of its characteristics (growth in both aerobic and anaerobic conditions, the reduction of nitrates into nitrites, the presence of higly active glycolytic enzymes).