Ecology and distribution of toxigenic Vibrio cholerae in aquatic environments of a temperate region.
The occurrence of a human pathogen, Vibrio cholerae, in aquatic environments and the distribution of toxigenic strains were studied for 2 years. The pathogen was isolated from freshwater, brackish and marine environments. V. cholerae non-01 was frequently recovered but the 01 serogroup was not detected. Of the 57 environmental strains tested, eight (12%) were found to be potentially toxigenic. A number of atypical V. cholerae 01 strains were found which showed higher virulence potentials than the serogroup non-01 strains. A significant correlation of the incidence of the pathogen was noted with water temperature in freshwater environments. In marine environments, a reciprocal correlation of the V. cholerae count and salinity was observed. The present study describes the ecology of V. cholerae in aquatic environments of a temperate region and notes that the occurrence of potentially virulent strains could be of public health significance.
Chowdhury
M A
MA
Department of Environmental Hygiene, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, Japan.
Miyoshi
S
S
Yamanaka
H
H
Shinoda
S
S
D002772:Cholera Toxin / Q000096:biosynthesis; D005618:Fresh Water; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007564:Japan; D012621:Seasons; D012623:Seawater; D013696:Temperature; D014734:Vibrio cholerae / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D014871:Water Microbiology
D002772:Cholera Toxin