Shigella : bacillary dysentery

Acute diarrhoea with blood, known as dysentery, is a significant clinical condition often caused by infectious agents. Bacillary dysentery (shigellosis) has been recognized since biblical times. The term "dysentery" (Δυσευτερια) was introduced by Hippocrates to describe the condition characterized by the passage of bloody and mucus-containing stools, accompanied by straining and tenesmus. Among these, Shigella species are prominent, with Shigella flexneri being a common pathogen responsible for bacillary dysentery. This condition, marked by the presence of blood in the stool, is a critical public health issue.

The bacterium was identified by Kiyoshi Shiga in 1898, and subsequent research over the next century has illuminated its pathogenesis and significant impact on human health.

Non-motile Gram-negative rod-shaped bacteria - family Enterobacteriaceae

Shigella species are characterized by their lack of motility, a distinctive feature that differentiates them from some other members of the Enterobacteriaceae family. Being Gram-negative, they possess an outer membrane that contributes to their pathogenicity and resistance to certain antibiotics. Their rod-shaped morphology is typical of many enteric bacteria, aiding in their identification in clinical microbiology.

Bacillary dysentery, such as shigellosis, is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, particularly affecting children over five in low- and middle-income nations. Annually,...