title: Occurrence and Diversity of Clinically Important Vibrio Species in the Aquatic Environment of Georgia.
abstract: Among the more than 70 different Vibrio species inhabiting marine, estuarine, and freshwater ecosystems, 12 are recognized as human pathogens. The warm subtropical climate of the Black Sea coastal area and inland regions of Georgia likely provides a favorable environment for various Vibrio species. From 2006 to 2009, the abundance, ecology, and diversity of clinically important Vibrio species were studied in different locations in Georgia and across seasons. Over a 33-month period, 1,595 presumptive Vibrio isolates were collected from the Black Sea (n = 657) and freshwater lakes around Tbilisi (n = 938). Screening of a subset of 440 concentrated and enriched water samples by PCR-electrospray ionization/mass spectrometry (PCR-ESI/MS) detected the presence of DNA from eight clinically important Vibrio species: V. cholerae, V. parahaemolyticus, V. vulnificus, V. mimicus, V. alginolyticus, V. harveyi, V. metschnikovii, and V. cincinnatiensis. Almost 90% of PCR/ESI-MS samples positive for Vibrio species were collected from June through November. Three important human-pathogenic Vibrio species (V. cholerae, V. parahaemolyticus, and V. vulnificus) were detected in 62.8, 37.8, and 21.4% of samples testing positive for Vibrios, respectively. The results of these activities suggest that natural reservoirs for human-pathogenic Vibrios exist in Georgian aquatic environments. Water temperature at all sampling sites was positively correlated with the abundance of clinically important Vibrio spp. (except V. metschnikovii), and salinity was correlated with species composition at particular Black Sea sites as well as inland reservoirs.
authors.affiliation: G. Eliava Institute of Bacteriophages, Microbiology, and Virology , Tbilisi , Georgia.
authors.forename: Tamar
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kokashvili
authors.affiliation: United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID) , Fort Detrick, MD , USA.
authors.forename: Chris A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Whitehouse
authors.affiliation: G. Eliava Institute of Bacteriophages, Microbiology, and Virology , Tbilisi , Georgia.
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tskhvediani
authors.affiliation: Institute for Advanced Computer Studies, University of Maryland College Park , College Park, MD , USA ; Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, Maryland Pathogen Research Institute, University of Maryland College Park , College Park, MD , USA.
authors.forename: Christopher J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Grim
authors.affiliation: G. Eliava Institute of Bacteriophages, Microbiology, and Virology , Tbilisi , Georgia.
authors.forename: Tinatin
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Elbakidze
authors.affiliation: G. Eliava Institute of Bacteriophages, Microbiology, and Virology , Tbilisi , Georgia.
authors.forename: Nino
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mitaishvili
authors.affiliation: G. Eliava Institute of Bacteriophages, Microbiology, and Virology , Tbilisi , Georgia.
authors.forename: Nino
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Janelidze
authors.affiliation: G. Eliava Institute of Bacteriophages, Microbiology, and Virology , Tbilisi , Georgia.
authors.forename: Ekaterine
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Jaiani
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, Maryland Pathogen Research Institute, University of Maryland College Park , College Park, MD , USA.
authors.forename: Bradd J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Haley
authors.affiliation: G. Eliava Institute of Bacteriophages, Microbiology, and Virology , Tbilisi , Georgia.
authors.forename: Nino
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Lashkhi
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, Maryland Pathogen Research Institute, University of Maryland College Park , College Park, MD , USA.
authors.forename: Anwar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Huq
authors.affiliation: Institute for Advanced Computer Studies, University of Maryland College Park , College Park, MD , USA ; Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, Maryland Pathogen Research Institute, University of Maryland College Park , College Park, MD , USA.
authors.forename: Rita R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Colwell
authors.affiliation: G. Eliava Institute of Bacteriophages, Microbiology, and Virology , Tbilisi , Georgia.
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tediashvili
keywords: Black Sea; Vibrios; aquatic environment; conventional culture; direct detection; diversity; infection; lakes