Genetic Characterization of Atypical Shigella flexneri Isolated in Korea

Abstract

Three types of serotypically atypical Shigella flexneri isolates were collected between 2007 and 2008 from Korean patients at the Korea National Institute of Health (NIH). These atypical isolates were characterized and compared with serologically typical S. flexneri. The first grouping of 11 atypical isolates displayed agglutination only with polyB antiserum and exhibited no reaction with any typing or grouping sera (PolyB:un). The second group of 3 isolates displayed reactions with typing sera IV, but also did not bind with any grouping sera (IV:un). The third group of 14 isolates exhibited a plural agglutination pattern, reacting with typing sera II, and two grouping sera (II:(3)4,7(8)). Amongst these atypical isolates, isolates belonging to IV:un and II:(3)4,7(8) exhibited greater antibiotic resistance, in particular to ampicillin, streptomycin, and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, than typical S. flexneri strains. Furthermore, all II:(3)4,7(8) strains harbored integrons. This study suggests that these multiple antibiotic-resistant atypical S. flexneri are new subserotypes of S. flexneri that await further serological classification.