[Investigation on vibrio cholera carried in aquatic products of littoral areas, Zhejiang Province].
OBJECTIVE
To examine vibrio cholera (V.C) in aquatic products of littoral area, Zhejiang Province and to provide scientific evidence for administration of aquatic products and cholera epidemic control.


METHODS
All 990 samples of aquatic products collected from local markets, eateries and aquafarms in three chosen areas. Samples were proliferated in alkaline liquid medium, and purified in NO: 4 medium, the isolations were identified biochemically, and phenotype of strains were defined by phagocyte and coagulation with V.C. diagnostic serum. Three virulence genes (ctx, ace, zct) of the isolated strains were detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR).


RESULTS
There were 1.41% samples caught by V.C., having a carrying rate highest in turtles of 8.9%. 14 strains were defined as three serogroups, and the numbers of Inaba, Ogawa, and Hikojima types were 2, 2, 10 respectively. Virulence genes had detected in 9 of 12 stains. All genes were detected in 5 strains, only ZOT genes in 3 strains, and both CTX and ACE genes in 1 strain.


CONCLUSIONS
Aquatic products from inshore in Zhejiang Province caught with V.C. strains might be divided into three serogroups. Most of them should be virulence genes. Cholera epidemic outbreak might be caused by those contaminated products.
Lü
Hua-kun
HK
Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Prevention and Control, Hangzhou 310009, China.
Chen
En-fu
EF
Xie
Shu-yun
SY
Chai
Cheng-liang
CL
Wei
Yu-dong
YD
Mo
Shun-tang
ST
Ye
Ju-lian
JL
Luo
Yun
Y
D002681:China; D005516:Food Microbiology; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D017747:Seafood / Q000382:microbiology*; D014734:Vibrio cholerae / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D037521:Virulence Factors / Q000235:genetics
D037521:Virulence Factors