title: Isolation of Vibrio cholerae from aquatic birds in Colorado and Utah.
abstract: Vibrio cholerae was isolated from cloacal swabs and freshly voided feces collected from 20 species of aquatic birds in Colorado and Utah during 1986 and 1987. About 17% (198 of 1,131) fecal specimens collected from July 1986 through August 1987 contained the organism. Both O1 and non-O1 V. cholerae strains were isolated from the fecal specimens. Isolates from eight birds (representing five species) agglutinated in O group 1 antiserum. Supernatants of broth cultures from three isolates which typed as V. cholerae O1 serotype Ogawa gave reactions typical of cholera toxin when tested on Y-1 mouse adrenal cell cultures. Several serovars of non-O1 V. cholerae were isolated from the fecal specimens; serovar 22 was the most prevalent type. All non-O1 isolates were cytotoxic to Y-1 mouse adrenal cells. Only non-O1 V. cholerae was detected in water samples collected from the habitat of the birds. The results of this study suggest that aquatic birds serve as carriers and disseminate V. cholerae over a wide area.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins 80523.
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Ogg
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Ryder
authors.forename: H L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Smith
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001715:Bird Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001717:Birds; D002353:Carrier State / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D002771:Cholera / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D003120:Colorado; D004197:Disease Reservoirs; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D014589:Utah; D014734:Vibrio cholerae / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D014871:Water Microbiology