Journal of Hygiene

Table of Contents - 1980 - Volume 84, Issue 02  

Research Article

A survey of Plesiomonas shigelloides from aquatic environments, domestic animals, pets and humans

Teruyoshi Araia1, Nobuyuki Ikejimaa1, Takeshi Itoha2, Senzo Sakaia2, Toshio Shimadaa3 and Riichi Sakazakia3

a1 Tama Branch Laboratory, Tokyo Metropolitan Research Laboratory of Public Health 16–25, Shibazakicho 3 chome, Tachikawa, 190, Japan

a2 Tokyo Metropolitan Research Laboratory of Public Health 24–1, Hyakunincho 3 chome, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160 Japan

a3 National Institute of Health 10–35, Kamiosaki 2 chome, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo, 141, Japan

Abstract

We conducted a survey during the period from 1974 to 1976, to determine the distribution of Plesiomonas shigelloides in human faeces, the intestinal contents of cattle, swine, poultry, dogs, cats, fresh water fish, and river water and sludge from wet riverbeds in the vicinity of Tokyo. Isolation of the organisms was performed by using Salmonella-Shigella (SS) agar and deoxycholate-hydrogensulphide-lactose (DHL) agar plates.

P. shigelloides was isolated from 3 (0·0078%) of 38454 healthy Tokyoites, 37 (3·8%) of 967 dogs, 40 (10·3%) of 389 cats, 25 (10·2%) of 246 fresh water fish, 64 (12·8%) of 497 river water samples, and 2 of 19 (10·5%) sludge samples.

Of 302 strains isolated, from dogs, cats, fresh water fish, river water and healthy carriers, 196 were typed to 50 serovars. Most of the serovars were found to be similar to strains isolated from patients with gastroenteritis due to P. shigelloides.

(Received May 22 1979)

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