A number of recent proposals to change the classification of shigellae were studied by the International Committee on Systematic Bacteriology Subcommittee on the Taxonomy of Enterobacteriaceae, which recommended adoption of the following proposals: (i) subdivision of Shigella flexneri serotype 5 into two subserotypes, 5a and 5b; (ii) reduction of the number of S . flexneri serotype 3 subserotypes from three to two; (iii) that Shigella sp. provisional serotype 2000-53 is not a Shigella, but an Escherichia coli; (iv) that provisional Shigella sp. serotypes 3873-50 and 3341-55 be added to the Shigella serotyping scheme as Shigella dysenteriae serotypes 11 and 12; (v) that provisional Shigella sp. serotypes 2710-54 and 3615-53 be added to the Shigella serotyping scheme as Shigella boydii serotypes 16 and 17; (vi) that Shigella sp. strain E 10163 and similar strains be added to the Shigella serotyping scheme as S. boydii serotype 18; and (vii) that provisional Shigella sp. serotype 1621-54 retain its provisional status pending study of additional strains.
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