Shigella Dysenteriae

Shigella dysenteriae is a facultative anaerobic, Gram-negative rod from the family Enterobacteriaceae. S. dysenteriae is primarily a human pathogen, as are all Shigellae. The disease has infected masses, particularly in close living quarters, such as refugee camps. Many prominent figures in history have also succumbed to the disease. President George Washington was known to suffer from recurring bouts of dysentery as early as 1755. During the United States Civil War, physicians would often refer to diarrhea as "diarrhea-dysentery," regardless of its cause. The Union army blamed the disease for more than 50,000 deaths.