Description
Plesiomonas shigelloides, an opportunistic pathogen is commonly implicated in human waterborne diarrhoea. It is mainly isolated from fresh water, fresh water fish, and shellfish and from many types of animals including goats, cattle, swine, dogs, cats, monkeys, vultures, snakes and toads. Human infections attributed to P. shigelloides are almost exclusively restricted to two clinical settings. The most common presentation is a watery diarrheal illness most often found in individuals with a history of fresh water contact, seafood consumption, exposure to amphibia or reptiles or travel to developing countries. The second well-recognized syndrome associated with P. shigelloides is septicemia, often accompanied by meningitis. Inositol Gelatin Medium is recommended for the cultivation of P. shigelloides from food as recommended by APHA.