Two epidemics of diarrhoeal disease possibly caused byPlesiomonas shigelloides

Abstract
SUMMARY: Two epidemics of water-borne diarrhoeal disease involving a total of 1000 persons are reported. In both epidemics, none of the usual bacterial enteropathogens were recognized andPlesiomonas shigelloideswas the only suspect aetiological agent isolated. The ecology ofP. shigelloideswas investigated in these outbreaks. It was recognized as an inhabitant of fresh surface water and its presence was closely related to warm weather.