[Characteristics of Shigella sonnei isolated from different regions of the USSR from 1974 to 1979].

The data on the relative significance of Sh. sonnei cultures in the totally of the cultures of all Shigella species circulating in different areas of the USSR in 1974--1979 are presented. The study of 527 Sh. sonnei strains resulted in their description based on 32 biochemical characteristics. The strains under study were typical in most of their constant characteristics, deviations being recorded in salicin (0.9%), argininee (1.9%) and arabinose (10%). The peculiarities of the biochemical reactions of the strains under study, grown in media containing glycerin, raffinose, xylose, lactose, sucrose, rhamnose, ornithine and arginin, were established, which proved to have a considerable practical value for the identification of Sh. sonnei circulating in the USSR. The data on the fermentation time of rhamnose, xylose and maltose allowed to biochemically differentiate 7 biovars of Sh. sonnei.