Bacteriophage Typing of Shigella Sonnei and its Limitations in Epidemiological Investigation

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Abstract
An investigation into the classification of strains of Shigella sonneiby the method of phage-typing (using unadapted bacteriophages) is described.829 strains, obtained during 3 years from twelve regions in England (including Monmouthshire) were examined by a standard technique. There were fifty-two outbreaks (involving 587 strains) from which two or more strains were isolated.Results confirmed the finding by Hammarström in Sweden that such classification was possible, strains falling into twenty phage-types of which thirteen were found more than once. All strains were typable, 74% belonging to the same type. In forty-seven outbreaks the phage-type was uniform, the commonest type occurring in thirty-eight of these. In five outbreaks the phage-type was not uniform.It is concluded that this method of phage-typing, because of evidence of type instability and because the majority of strains belong to the same phage-type, has little practical value as a routine procedure in the control of Sonne dysentery in this country.

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