Identification and characterization of Shigella boydii 20 serovar nov., a new and emerging Shigella serotype

1 Bacteriology and Enteric Diseases Program, National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, 1015 Arlington Street, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada R3E 3R2 2 Bureau of Microbial Hazards, Health Products and Food Branch, Frederick G. Banting Building, Tunney's Pasture, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1A 0L2 3 Division of Bacterial Diseases, Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Rd, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA 4 Department of Microbiology, Rudman Hall, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH 03824, USA Correspondence David L. Woodward David_Woodward{at}phac-aspc.gc.ca Received March 18, 2005 Accepted May 12, 2005 Analysis of 163 putative Shigella isolates from Canada and the USA showed biochemical reactions consistent with Shigella species, although none of the isolates reacted with antiserum raised against any of the well-established or provisional Shigella serotypes. All these isolates, provisionally designated serotype SH108, were positive for the ipaH gene and the invasion-associated locus. All fermented mannitol, were serologically indistinguishable from each other and showed no reaction in antisera prepared against Escherichia coli serotypes O1 to O181. PCR-RFLP analysis of the genes involved in O-antigen synthesis revealed a common pattern among these isolates that was distinct from recognized Shigella serotypes and E. coli . Between 1999 and 2003, isolates from across Canada were submitted to the National Laboratory for Enteric Pathogens for antibiotic susceptibility testing, phage typing and PFGE. These assays revealed heterogeneity among the members of this serotype. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing with seven antibiotics identified six profiles, with 90 % (45/50) of the isolates resistant to four or more antibiotics and 72 % (36/50) resistant to five or more. All isolates were typable using a panel of 16 phages, with 11 different phage types (PTs) represented. The most common PTs found were PT 3 (64 %), PT 6 (10 %) and PT 16 (6 %). Analysis of Xba I-restricted genomic DNA revealed 16 highly related patterns that were not readily distinguishable from those obtained for some other Shigella serotypes. The World Health Organization Collaborating Center for Shigella has added serotype SH108 to the Shigella scheme as S. boydii serotype 20 (serovar nov.). Strain SH108 (isolate 99-4528) is the reference strain for this serotype. Abbreviation: PT, phage type.