https://mmbr.asm.org/content/mmbr/47/4/510.full.pdf

New knowledge on pathogenesis of bacterial enteric infections as applied to vaccine development.

A total of 65 isolates of Vibrio cholerae, serotypes other than O--1, have been recovered from water, sediment, and shellfish samples from the Chesapeake Bay. Isolations were not random, but followed a distinct pattern in which salinity appeared to be a controlling factor in V. cholerae distribution. Water salinity at stations yielding V. cholerae (13 out of 21 stations) was 4 to 17 0/00, whereas the salinity of water at stations from which V. cholerae organisms were not isolated was less than 4 or greater than 17 0/00. From results of statistical analyses, no correlation between incidence of fecal coliforms and V. cholerae could be detected, whereas incidence of Salmonella species, measured concurrently, was clearly correlated with fecal coliforms, with Salmonella isolated only in areas of high fecal coliform levels. A seasonal cycle could not be determined since strains of V. cholerae were detectable at low levels (ca. 1 to 10 cells/liter) throughout the year. Although none of the Chesapeake Bay isolates was agglutinable in V. cholerae O group 1 antiserum, the majority for Y-1 adrenal cells. Furthermore, rabbit ileal loop and mouse lethality tests were also positive for the Chesapeake Bay isolates, with average fluid accumulation in positive ileal loops ranging from 0.21 to 2.11 ml/cm. Serotypes of the strains of V. cholerae recovered from Chesapeake Bay were those of wide geographic distribution. It is concluded from the data assembled to date, that V. cholerae is an autochthonous estuarine bacterial species resident in Chesapeake Bay.

Ecology, serology, and enterotoxin production of Vibrio cholerae in Chesapeake Bay.

Laboratory microecosystems (microcosms) prepared with a chemically defined sea salt solution were used to study effects of selected environmental parameters on growth and activity of Vibrio cholerae. Growth responses under simulated estuarine conditions of 10 strains of V. cholerae, including clinical and environmental isolates as well as serovars O1 and non-O1, were compared, and all strains yielded populations of approximately the same final size. Effects of salinity and temperature on extended survival of V. cholerae demonstrated that, at an estuarine salinity (25%) and a temperature of 10 degrees C, V. cholerae survived (i.e., was culturable) for less than 4 days. Salinity was also found to influence activity, as measured by uptake of 14C-amino acids. Studies on the effect of selected ions on growth and activity of V. cholerae demonstrated that Na+ was required for growth. The results of this study further support the status of V. cholerae as an estuarine bacterium.

Effects of temperature and salinity on Vibrio cholerae growth.

Non-cholera vibrios are organisms that are biochemically indistinguishable from Vibrio cholerae but do not agglutinate in vibrio 0 group 1 antiserum. Since 1972 there has been a dramatic increase in the number of these organisms referred to the Center for Disease Control for identification. Clinical, epidemiologic, and laboratory data were analyzed for 26 of 28 patients with isolates identified between January 1972 and March 1975. Thirteen (50%) of the isolates were obtained from feces of patients who had an acute diarrheal illness; no other pathogens were isolated from their feces, and all patients survived. Four (15%) patients had non-cholera vibrios isolated from other gastrointestinal or biliary tract sites; none of these patients had acute illness definitely attributable to non-cholera vibrios. Nine (35%) patients had non-cholera vibrios isolated from other tissues and body fluids; four deaths occurred in this group. Patients with acute diarrhea frequently had a history of recent shellfish ingestion or foreign travel, whereas some patients with systemic non-cholera vibrio infection had a history of recent occupational or recreational exposure to salt water.

Non-Cholera Vibrio Infections in the United States: Clinical, Epidemiologic, and Laboratory Features

Non-cholera vibrios are organisms that are biochemically indistinguishable fromVibrio choleraebut do not agglutinate in vibrio 0 group 1 antiserum. Since 1972 there has been a dramatic inc...

Non-Cholera Vibrio Infections in the United States

11,650 specimens were studied bacteriologically. 139 El Tor Inaba strains were isolated from the stool of suspected patients and contacts, from water of various wells and tributaries of Kelantan river, and from shellfish. 15 El Tor Inaba, 25 non-agglutinable and 10 partially-agglutinable and auto-agglutinable (rough) strains were demonstrated in edible types of shellfish. 55 non-agglutinable vibrios were isolated from stools of suspected patients, from shellfish and water, and were regarded as pathogenic. Shellfish and water were considered as predominant vehicles for the transmission of cholera in this outbreak. The short-term carrier state is emphasized and the causal relationship of cholera with carrier was found to be insignificant in this outbreak. Bacteriological significance of partially-agglutinable and auto-agglutinable (rough) El Tor vibrios is discussed.

T. Velauthan

Papers

A shellfish-borne cholera outbreak in Malaysia