EXTRAINTESTINAL DISEASE PRODUCED BY PLESIOMONAS SHIGELLOIDES: CLINICAL CHARACTERISTICS AND IN VITRO PATHOGENICITY

Extraintestinal infections produced by Plesiomonas shigelloides have, to date, been confined to reports of bacteraemia and meningitis and one case of cholecystitis. Although many studies have failed to identify potential virulence factors associated with the pathogenicity of P. shigelloides, recent investigations have suggested that certain adhesins, toxins, invasins, and the presence of a large plasmid may play a role in this process. Many more studies need to be performed and infections reported until a more accurate picture of epidemiologic significance of this organism is obtained.