User:NicoMun/Plesiomonas shigelloides

Classification
P. shigelloides was originally considered part of the family Vibrionaceae, but is generally accepted to be part of Enterobacteriaceae due to the similarity of its 5S rRNA sequence to other members of Enterobacteriaceae . The rRNA sequence of P. shigelloides has been found to be most similar to Proteus Mirabilis, and as a result it is now considered part of the tribe Proteeae within the family Enterobacteriaceae. P. shigelloides is the only known member of its genus. It is a Gram-negative, rod-shaped bacterium which has been isolated from freshwater, soil associated with freshwater environments, freshwater fish, shellfish, cattle, goats, swine, cats, dogs, monkeys, vultures, snakes, toads and humans. It is considered a fecal coliform. P. shigelloides is a global distributed species, found across the world outside of the polar ice caps.

P. shigelloides is incapable of surviving in saltwater enviornments where the concentration of salt is greater than 4% and has been found to tolerate pH ranges between 4.5 and 9. It grows optimally between 35°C and 39°C, and has been found to survive in the temperature range of 8°C to 45°C.

Although P. shigelloides is primarily associated with the diharrehal disease state in humans, certain animals including cats and dogs have been found to frequently carry the bacterium while in a healthy state. Freshwater fish can often be infected with P. shigelloides which can be lethal depending on the concentration of the bacterium in their bodies.

P. shigelloides has been found to be a potential contaminant of drinkable water following water-based natural disasters such as hurricanes and tsunamis.