DETECCIÓN DE SHIGELLA SPP. EN MUESTRAS DE CARNE DE POLLO QUE SE EXPENDE EN EL CANTÓN AMBATO.

Shigella spp. is the causative agent of gastric infections commonly acquired by the consumption of contaminated food. Chicken meat is an important transmission source of shigellosis due to its high demand and consumption. The purpose of this article is the detection of Shigella spp in chicken meat that is sold in Ambato from different markets. 135 samples were taken, 45 from places with an operating licence, 45 from informal food markets and 45 from slaughterhouses that supply the city of Ambato. Phenotypic identification was performed by culturing bacteria on selective medium, Gram staining and TSI. Shigella spp. candodates were sent for molecular identification by amplification of the 16S region of ribosomal DNA, where the presence of Shigella sonnei (10), Shigella flexneri (5) and Shigella dysenteriae (2) was demonstrated, whereas that Shigella boydii was not in any of the samples. In summary, three species of Shigella were identified, predominantly S. sonnei with greater inclination in slaughterhouses and informal outlets, which can mean a serious problem for Public Health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]