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Survival of Shigella in Sea Water

Nature volume 203, pages 213–214 (1964)Cite this article

Abstract

THE survival of enteric bacteria in sea water has been extensively investigated1–5. However, there is a paucity of information on the survival of Shigella, in sea water. We felt that an examination of the survival of Shigella species in sea water was important since it has been a common practice of communities situated on coastlines to utilize the adjacent oceans as a convenient receiver for all domestic wastes. There has been an increase in the use of ocean beaches and tidal areas for recreational activities and commercial shell-fishing; this, coupled with evidence that enteric infections are primarily water-borne, has necessitated certain precautionary measures. This communication records our work on the persistence of Shigellae in natural sea water, sea water treated in various ways, artificial sea water and saline solutions. The investigations were performed at various temperatures.

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Author notes

  1. ROBERT L. STONE and JUDITH E. KRUBSACK: Participants in the Undergraduate Research Participation Programme supported by a grant from the National Science Foundation.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Microbiology, Montana State University, Missoula

    MITSURU NAKAMURA, ROBERT L. STONE & JUDITH E. KRUBSACK

  2. Southcentral Regional Laboratory, Division of Public Health, State of Alaska, Department of Health and Welfare, Anchorage, Alaska

    FRANK P. PAULS

Authors
  1. MITSURU NAKAMURA
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  2. ROBERT L. STONE
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  3. JUDITH E. KRUBSACK
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  4. FRANK P. PAULS
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NAKAMURA, M., STONE, R., KRUBSACK, J. et al. Survival of Shigella in Sea Water. Nature 203, 213–214 (1964). https://doi.org/10.1038/203213a0

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