title: Characterization of Vibrio cholerae isolated from the aquatic basins of the State of Pernambuco, Brazil.
abstract: Through a continuous bacteriological monitoring programme carried out by the Health Secretariat of the State of Pernambuco, Brazil, two isolates of Vibrio cholerae O1 El Tor Ogawa were discovered in an endemic area in 2001, during a cholera inactive period, along with six V. cholerae non-O1/non-O139 strains and two Aeromonas veronii biovar sobria strains showing an unusual characteristic of agglutination with O1 antiserum. Between that time and 2005, eight other O1 isolates were found. The virulence genes present in the V. cholerae differed among strains, with only three O1 strains harboring the ctxA gene. The O1 and some non-O1/non-O139 strains displayed identical patterns of amplification of the 16S-23S intergenic spacer region. RAPD of the 10 V. cholerae O1 strains, with the two primers used, revealed heterogeneity. The presence of V. cholerae carrying virulence genes in the aquatic basins examined confirms that they constitute a vibrio reservoir during a cholera inactive period, thus strengthening the argument for a continuous monitoring programme and preventative measures for cholera, mainly in the areas where the supply of drinking water is deficient.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Pesquisas Aggeu Magalhães/fiocruz, Av. Moraes Rego s/n, Campus da UFPE, Cidade Universitária, 50670-420, Recife, PE, Brazil. nilma@cpqam.fiocruz.br
authors.forename: Nilma Cintra
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Leal
authors.forename: Angela Cristina Torres
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: de Araújo Figueiroa
authors.forename: Valdelúcia Oliveira
authors.initials: VO
authors.lastname: Cavalcanti
authors.forename: Soraya Cavalcante
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: da Silva
authors.forename: Tereza Cristina
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Leal-Balbino
authors.forename: Alzira Maria Paiva
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: de Almeida
authors.forename: Ernesto
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hofer
mesh_terms: D001938:Brazil; D002771:Cholera / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D062665:Epidemiological Monitoring; D005838:Genotype; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D019105:Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA Technique; D041241:Vibrio cholerae O1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D044163:Vibrio cholerae non-O1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D014774:Virulence / Q000235:genetics; D014871:Water Microbiology