Antigenic Analysis of Cultures of B. Paradysenteriae and B. Morgani Isolated During an Epidemic of Summer Diarrhea

Abstract

The cultures forming the material for this study were obtained during an outbreak of diarrhea in August and September, 1927, in a small rural community in New York State. There were 10 cases in three families; only two children in the three families had no manifestations of the infection; no adults were affected. The symptoms were diarrhea with blood and mucus in the stools, fever, vomiting, prostration. The duration varied from two days to three weeks. The youngest patient was one year of age; the oldest was fifteen; the intensity and duration of symptoms were less in the older children. Organisms obtained for study were isolated from Endo and eosin methylene blue plates seeded with fresh specimens of stools. ¹