[Isolation of Shigella boydii serotype 14 with altered biochemical characteristics in a water-borne epidemic of dysentery].

Two water-borne epidemics of bacillary dysentery have been described in a garrison in which the leading causative agent has been shigella boydii, serotype of 14 altered biochemical characteristics isolated for the first time in Yugoslavia. All the isolated strains of this shigella were mannitol negative and they degradated gylocose to acidity and gas already after 24 hours, and arabinose and sorbitol to acidity and gas after 48 hours. The clinical picture of the diseased was characteristic of bacillary dysentery and did not differ from clinical picture of patients in whom other serotypes of shigella were isolated.