Shigella flexneri

Introduction

This bacterium causes shigellosis, with shigella sonnei. It causes diarrhea and dysentery in humans. It can also cause symptoms of fever and stomach cramps. 

Hosts

Humans; It is most prevalent in children and immunocompromised individuals. 

Transmission / Exposure Route

Transmission.

Case Fatality Ratio

Shigellosis causes 1.1 million deaths and over 164 million cases each year, occurring mainly in developing nations. 

Incubation Period

In a healthy human, the incubation period is about 5 to 7 days.

Microbiology

A Gram negative, non-motile, non-spore forming, rod shaped. 

Enviromental Survival

It grows in a facultative anaerobic environment, so it does not require a specific amount of oxygen to survive. It is resistant, as it is not susceptible to dapsone, but it is susceptible to ampicillin.