Global Distribution of Shigella sonnei Clones

Abstract

To investigate global epidemiology of Shigella sonnei, we performed multilocus variable number tandem repeat analysis of 1,672 isolates obtained since 1943 from 50 countries on 5 continents and the Pacific region. Three major clonal groups were identified; 2 were globally spread. Type 18 and its derivatives have circulated worldwide in recent decades.

Keywords

• Shigella sonnei
• molecular epidemiology
• global distribution
• clones
• bacteria
• dispatch