[Some controversial questions on the epidemiology of intestinal infections. Report I. Significance of the dose and the biological properties of the causative agent in the epidemiology and the clinical picture of salmonelloses and dysentery].

On the basis of analysis of literature and personal observations and studies the authors explain a number of epidemiological and clinical peculiarities of intestinal infections with various pathogenic doses of the causative agents; under the term pathogenic dose is understood the minimal amount of microbes necessary for the onset of the disease with the natural mechanism of transmission of the infection. Regularities of the effect of the pathogenic dose of the causative agent on the epidemic process common for intestinal infections were formulated.