Inositol Brilliant Green Bile Agar (Plesiomonas Differential Agar)

Plesiomonas shigelloides was originally isolated in 1947 by Ferguson and Henderson and is the only species in the genus. Humans are infected with P. shigelloides through ingestion of contaminated food or water, or by contact with colonized animals. P. shigelloides is an uncommon cause of acute bacterial gastroenteritis and an extremely rare cause of extraintestinal infections, e.g. sepsis, meningitis, cellulitis, septic arthritis, and osteomyelitis. Other organisms implicated in human waterborne diarrhea include Aeromonas species.

Proteose peptone and beef extract provide nitrogen, vitamins, minerals and amino acids essential for growth. Sodium chloride supplies essential electrolytes for transport and osmotic balance. Bile salts and brilliant green inhibit Gram-positive bacteria and most Gram-negative bacteria except coliforms. P. shigelloides grows in the presence of these substances. Meso-inositol is a fermentable carbohydrate source. Most bacterial species do not ferment meso-inositol, but almost all strains of P. shigelloides ferment this naturally occurring cyclic polyhydroxyl alcohol. Neutral red is the pH indicator. Bacteriological agar is the solidifying agent.

Typical formula in g/L, adjusted and/or supplemented as required to meet performance criteria.

Preparation

Suspend 52.03 grams of the medium in one liter of distilled water. Mix well and dissolve by heating with frequent agitation. Boil for one minute until complete dissolution. Sterilize in autoclave at 121 °C for 15 minutes. Cool to 45-50 °C, mix well and dispense into plates.

Instructions for use

Inoculate and incubate at 35 ± 2 °C for 18-24 hours.

• Ferguson WW, Henderson ND. Description of strain C27: A motile organism with the major antigen of Shigella sonnei phase 1. J Bacteriol. 1947;54:179-81.
• Osman Ozdemir, Sinan Sari, Serdar Terzioglu, Aysegul Zenciroglu, Plesiomonas shigelloides Sepsis and Meningoencephalitis in a Surviving Neonate, Journal of Microbiology, Immunology and Infection, Volume 43, Issue 4, 2010, Pages 344-346, ISSN 1684-1182.
• Cooper R. G., and Brown G. W., 1968, Plesiomonas shigelloides
• Schubert R. H. W., 1977, Ueber den Nachweis von Plesiomonas shigelloides Habs and Schubert, 1962, und ein Elektivmedium, den Inositol-Brilliantgrun-Gallesalz-Agar. Ernst Rodenwaldt Arch. 4:97-103.
• Appelbaum D. C., Bowen A. J., Adhikari M., et al, 1978, J. Pediatr., 92:676.