Shigellosis (bacillary dysentery) is a foodborne enterobacterial infection caused by Shigella species. There are four subgroups of Shigella: S. dysenteriae, S. flexneri, S. boydii, and S. sonnei. Of these, S. flexneri is the most frequently observed worldwide, and S. dysenteriae causes severe disease with the highest fatality rate. Transmission usually occurs via contaminated food and water or through person-to-person contact.
