Wewedru I. MSc (ID).

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 Shigella are Gram –ve, non-motile, none sporing,
rod shaped bacteria, closely related to Escherichia
coli.
 Causative agent of human shigellosis.
 Also cause disease in other primates but not in
other mammals.

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 Shigella species are classified by four sero –
groups:
Sero-Gp A: Sh.dysenteriae (12 seroptypes).
 Sero-Gp B: Sh.flexneri (6 serotypes,X & Y vari-
ants).
Sero-Gp C: Sh.boydii (18 serotypes), and
Sero-Gp D: Sh.sonnei (1 serotype, 2 Phases
[1&2]).

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 Gp A – C are physiologically similar.
 Sh.sonnei (Gp D) can be differentiated on the basis
of biochemical metabolism assays.

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 These species are found only in the intestines of
humans.
 Rarely found in the faeces of healthy convalescent
carriers ( or permanently in biliary tract of carriers
of S.typhi).

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 Gram –ve bacilli, non-motile and non-sporing.

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1. Fresh faeces with mucous.
2. Wet saline preparation examination: Numerous
rbcs and polymorphs/pus cells.
3. Culture:
 Aerobic/facultatively anaerobic + Optimum
temperature 370 C.
 Solid media: Mc, DCA/XLD
 Enrichment medium: Selenite F broth.
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4. Identification:
 Primary identifying tests: UCI, SIM,TSI,GLMS.
 Slide agglutination tests: Poly- and Monoclonal
antisera typing.

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 Shigella infection is typically via ingestion (faecal
– oral route).
 As few as 10 bacterial cells can cause an infection
depending on age and condition of the host.
 Dysentry caused results in the destruction of the ep-
ithelial cells of the intestinal mucosa in the caecum
and rectum.

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 Some strains produce enterotoxin and shiga toxin,
similar to the verotoxin of Escherichia coli
O157:H7.
 Common symptoms: diarrhoea, fever,nausea, vom-
iting , stomach cramps and straining to have bowel
movement.
oStool may contain blood, mucous or pus.
oIn rare cases young children may have seizures.

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oSymptoms may take as long as a week to show up,
but mostly 2 to 4 days.
oSymptoms last for several days or for weeks.

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 Proper sanitation.
 Antimicrobial agents:
oVaried drug susceptibility.
o Use: Amp, TE, Chlor, Cephalosporins, Fluoro-
quinolones and Nalidixic acid.

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