[The etiological structure of shigellosis in the USSR in recent years]

The characterization of etiological structure of Shigella infection in the whole of the USSR, in individual union republics and at a number of other administrative territories of the USSR in recent years is presented. S. flexneri has been shown to prevail at the territories with unsatisfactory water supply of the population, and S. sonnei prevails at the territories with good water supply. At the former territories S. dysenteriae and S. boydii retain their etiological importance, while at the latter ones their role is insignificant. At a number of territories the infectious process has stopped: no isolation of these shigellae from dysentery patients and carriers is observed any longer. Among the causative agents of Flexner's dysentery, S. flexneri 2a, 6 and 1b (in different combinations) play the leading role.