Is protection against shigellosis induced by natural infection with Plesiomonas shigelloides?
Shigellosis due to Shigella sonnei is rare among people growing up and living in developing countries; however, infections due to S sonnei becomes more common than those due to S flexneri as societies develop economically. The relation between risk of S sonnei infection and economic development may be explained by the exposure of developing-country populations to Plesiomonas shigelloides. P shigelloides is often found in surface water, and one serotype (serotype 17) possesses a cell-wall lipopolysaccharide identical to that of S sonnei. Thus, exposure to P shigelloides by drinking contaminated water may immunise populations to S sonnei. As economic development occurs, water quality improves and populations become susceptible to S sonnei. Although drinking water has many advantages, immunisation against S sonnei may be one benefit of traditional water sources.
Sack
D A
DA
Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205.
Hoque
A T
AT
Huq
A
A
Etheridge
M
M
D003906:Developing Countries; D004405:Dysentery, Bacillary / Q000276:immunology*; D016905:Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007109:Immunity; D016981:Plesiomonas / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012763:Shigella flexneri / Q000276:immunology; D012764:Shigella sonnei / Q000276:immunology; D014871:Water Microbiology