title: Salinity-induced survival strategy of Vibrio cholerae associated with copepods in Cochin backwaters.
abstract: The occurrence of Vibrio cholerae in water, sediment and copepods was studied over a wide range of salinity using conventional and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) techniques in the Cochin backwaters. V. cholerae occurred either as culturable or non-culturable form in this tropical estuary. During the pre monsoon period when high salinity prevailed (35.5psu) V. cholerae was associated with copepods only in non-culturable form, but with the onset of monsoon when lower salinity prevailed, copepod-associated-V. cholerae reverted back to culturable form. The optimum salinity range for culturability was found to be 15-20psu. This points to the fact that salinity is a major factor that which influences V. cholerae's culturability and its association with copepods in Cochin backwaters.
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Oceanography, Regional Centre, PB 1616, Kochi 682018, India.
authors.forename: K U
authors.initials: KU
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Joseph
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Raveendran
authors.forename: Shanta
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nair
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D033342:Copepoda / Q000382:microbiology*; D017931:DNA Primers; D004952:Esters / Q000032:analysis; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000382:microbiology*; D007194:India; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012623:Seawater / Q000737:chemistry / Q000382:microbiology*; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000032:analysis; D014734:Vibrio cholerae / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D014871:Water Microbiology
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; D004952:Esters; D012965:Sodium Chloride