The Arizona group of enterobacteriaceae in animals and man; occurrence and distribution.

A summary of the occurrence and distribution of serotypes of the Arizona group of Enterobacteriaceae among animals and man is presented. In all, 1308 cultures have now been isolated and 96 serotypes identified. In the 75 cultures obtained from man, 21 serotypes have been found. Organisms of the Arizona group have been discovered in epizootic infections of animals in which the mortality was high. In man they have appeared both in sporadic cases and in well-defined outbreaks of disease. The bacteria have been found in blood cultures and localized infections as well as in the stools of persons affected with gastro-enteritis. The opinion that bacteria of the Arizona group are primary excitants of disease is stressed and evidence to support this view is presented.