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| {{Shigellosis}} | | {{Shigellosis}} |
| {{CMG}} | | {{CMG}} |
| ==Causes== | | ==Overview== |
| Shigellosis is is a [[foodborne illness]] caused by infection by [[bacteria]] of the genus [[Shigella]].
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| ==='''Etiologic Agent:''' === | | ==Shigellosis Causes== |
| | ===Etiologic Agent=== |
| | Shigellosis is usually a foodborne or waterborne illness caused by an infection with ''Shigella'' species. |
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| Four species of Shigella: ''boydii'', ''dysenteriae'', ''flexneri'', and ''sonnei''.
| | ===Structure=== |
| | | *''Shigella'' is a gram-negative, non-motile, facultatively anaerobic, non-spore-forming rod. |
| ===Type of Pathogen=== | | *Shigella is closely related to ''E. coli'', where both organisms are thought to be derived from similar vector plasmids. Unlike ''E. coli'', ''Shigella'' cannot ferment lactose or decarboxylate lysine. |
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| The Shigella germ is actually a family of [[bacteria]] that can cause [[diarrhea]] in humans. They are microscopic living creatures that pass from person to person. Shigella were discovered over 100 years ago by a Japanese scientist named Shiga, for whom they are named. There are several different kinds of Shigella bacteria: ''Shigella sonnei'', also known as "Group D" Shigella, accounts for over two-thirds of the shigellosis in the United States. A second type, ''Shigella flexneri'', or "group B" Shigella, accounts for almost all of the rest. Other types of Shigella are rare in this country, though they continue to be important causes of disease in the developing world. One type found in the developing world, ''Shigella dysenteriae'' type 1, causes deadly epidemics there.
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| ===Method of Transmission===
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| * Food or water contamination
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| * Person to person spread (small number of organisms needed)
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| * [[Incubation period]] is 1-7 days<ref>http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dbmd/diseaseinfo/shigellosis_t.htm</ref>
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| The Shigella bacteria pass from one infected person to the next. Shigella are present in the [[diarrhea]]l [[stool]]s of infected persons while they are sick and for a week or two afterwards. Most Shigella infections are the result of the bacterium passing from stools or soiled fingers of one person to the mouth of another person. This happens when basic hygiene and handwashing habits are inadequate. It is particularly likely to occur among toddlers who are not fully toilet-trained. Family members and playmates of such children are at high risk of becoming infected.
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| Shigella infections may be acquired from eating contaminated food. Contaminated food may look and smell normal. Food may become contaminated by infected food handlers who forget to wash their hands with soap after using the bathroom. Vegetables can become contaminated if they are harvested from a field with sewage in it. Flies can breed in infected feces and then contaminate food. Shigella infections can also be acquired by drinking or swimming in contaminated water. Water may become contaminated if sewage runs into it, or if someone with shigellosis swims in it.
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| <ref>http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dbmd/diseaseinfo/shigellosis_t.htm </ref>
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| <ref>http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dbmd/diseaseinfo/shigellosis_g.htm </ref>
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| ==References== | | ==References== |