A simple test you can perform is the Citrate test, Serratia marcensens is Citrate positive while Shigella flexneriis citrate negative.
Also Serratia Marcensens is motile and Shigella flexneri is non motile if you have already done a Hydrogen Sulfide test you would have been able to already determine between the two.
Also Serratia marcensens is VP positive while Shigella flexneri is negative.
Serratia marcensens is lipase positive and Shigella flexneri is lipase negative
Another distinguishing characteristic is that Serratia marcensens grows a distinct red color pigmentation the Shigella flexneri does not have.
(These are all according to Bergeys Manual of Systematic bacteriology)
To differentiate Shigella flexneri from Yersinia pseudotuberculosis, a key lab test is the urease test. Yersinia pseudotuberculosis is urease positive, while Shigella flexneri is urease negative. Additionally, biochemical tests such as the fermentation of lactose can help, as Shigella flexneri does not ferment lactose, whereas Yersinia may show variable lactose fermentation.
Shigella species are generally indole negative, except for Shigella flexneri, which can be indole positive depending on the specific strain. In laboratory identification, indole testing is used to differentiate between various enteric bacteria. Therefore, while most Shigella species do not produce indole, Shigella flexneri may show positive results under certain conditions.
When a gram stain is done on Shigella flexneri, the cells are light pink. This means that they are gram negative.
Based on my own test, Shigella flexneri tests negative for the citrate test.
Rod Shaped
Shigela flexneri or shigella sonnei
S. aureus, E. coli, P. auriginosa, Salmonella typhi, Shigella sonnei, Shigella flexneri, Vibrio cholera.
Shigella is caused by a type of bacterium. Specifically, it is a genus of bacteria belonging to the family Enterobacteriaceae. Shigella is known to cause shigellosis, an infectious disease characterized by diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps. There are four main species of Shigella, with Shigella dysenteriae, Shigella flexneri, Shigella boydii, and Shigella sonnei being the most common.
Shigella flexneri is a Gram-negative bacterium characterized by its rod-shaped morphology. It typically measures about 0.5 to 0.7 micrometers in diameter and 1 to 3 micrometers in length. These bacteria are non-spore-forming and exhibit a single polar flagellum, although many strains are non-motile. Shigella flexneri is known for its ability to cause dysentery in humans.
To differentiate a colorless colony on MacConkey agar, which indicates non-lactose fermenting bacteria, you would perform a series of biochemical tests. First, conduct a hydrogen sulfide (H2S) test; Salmonella typically produces H2S, resulting in black precipitate on triple sugar iron (TSI) agar, while Shigella does not. Additionally, you can perform an indole test; Shigella flexneri is indole positive, while Salmonella is usually negative. Confirmatory tests, such as serotyping or specific PCR assays, can further identify the organism.
among the symptoms of shigellosis are high fever, loss of appetite and abdominal cramps. Severe cases might include seizures, a stiff neck, a headache and confusion. In some cases, shigella flexneri causes Reiter's syndrome, also called retroactive arthritis. This strain of shigella bacteria also is responsible for such symptoms as painful joints, eye irritation and painful urination, which occur in about two percent of cases. Dehydration due to diarrhea and vomiting is a concern. It can lead to other severe complications, such as kidney failure. Children might need to be hospitalized if fever reaches more than 101 degrees Fahrenheit.
It works for a wide variety of infections. Here are some uses: Oral treatment of urinary tract infections due to E. coli, Klebsiella and Enterobacter sp, M. morganii, P. mirabilis and P. vulgaris; acute otitis media in children; acute exacerbations of chronic bronchitis in adults due to susceptible strains of H. influenzae or S. pneumoniae; treatment and prophylaxis of Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonitis (PCP); traveler's diarrhea due to enterotoxigenic E. coli; treatment of enteritis caused by Shigella flexneri or Shigella sonnei.