Biochemical characteristics and plasmids of clinical and environmental Plesiomonas shigelloides

The biochemical characteristics of 68 clinical and 5 environmental Plesiomonas shigelloides isolates were determined. The reactions for ONPG, phenylalanine deaminase, motility, lactose fermentation and salicin fermentation were different from previously published findings. The reactions of the clinical and environmental isolates were very similar. The isolates were also tested for the presence of plasmids, and 40% of the strains were found to harbor between one and seven plasmids. The findings of this study will be useful for the identification and characterization of this recently recognized enteric pathogen.