The analysis of 332 strains of Shigella isolated in the Microbiology Department of the Hacettepe Faculty of Medicine in Ankara within the last eight years is presented on the basis of the types, sub-types, and monthly and yearly distribution of isolations.

According to this data, Sh. flexneri, type 2b is the most prevalent type among the Turkish inhabitants of Ankara, followed by Sh sonnei and Sh. flexneri-3. The role of Sh. dysenteriae and Sh. boydii strains in the etiology are small in comparison. Among the Americans living in Ankara, Sh. sonnei isolations are more frequent than Sh. flexneri types.

The continuation of isolations throughout the year suggests that the nature of the disease in Ankara is endemic. On the basis of the fact that the isolations were made from patients coming from all over Turkey and also according to information reported by other investigators, the author suggests that the incidence rates for different Shigella types might be about the same for the country as a whole.