Detection of non-culturable Shigella dysenteriae 1 from artificially contaminated volunteers' fingers using fluorescent antibody and PCR techniques.

Epidemiological studies have demonstrated that hands may be an important vehicle for transmission of shigellosis. The present study was carried out to find out the survival potential of Shigella dysenteriae 1 on fingers of volunteers. Finger surface was inoculated with 10(5) cfu of S. dysenteriae 1 and then the bacteria were detected using conventional culture, PCR and fluorescent antibody (FA) techniques after different time intervals. It was found that S. dysenteriae 1 survived for up to one hour in culturable form but up to four hours in non-culturable form on human fingers. The non-culturable S. dysenteriae was detected by PCR and FA techniques. This study elaborates on the role that fingers have in the transmission of shigellae.