A Gastro-enteritis Outbreak Probably Due to a Bovine Strain of Vibrio *

Acu'te disorders of the gastro-intestinal tract are generally precipitated by certain groups of pathogenic bacteria, such as the salmonella, shigella, and proteus groups, 20, 21, 30, 39, 41, 42, 45, 52, 53 or by a metabolic product, as enterotoxin, which is formed by some strains of hemolytic staphylococci and streptococci and liberated into the food.4 7, 17, 34,48, 54 66 Hemolytic staphylococci have been. identified most frequently as the offending agents in gastro-enteritis, 9 13, 15, 16, 18, 49, 50, 51, 55, 56 yet the medical literature reveals that an almost equal number of outbreaks have been due to shigella and salmonella. Recent articles have described outbreaks of epidemic form, showing diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting, attributed to an unknown cause, possibly a virus.2'6 36,47 Many epidemics can be traced to a definite source and the causative organisms can be successfully isolated and identified. Occasionally, even though the facts are at hand, their correlation may not be easily accomplished5' 11, 14, 24, 43, 46 and reliance must be placed on circumstantial evidence. Such was the situation in the following outbreak.