Between June 1981 and December 1982 the incidence of Vibrio cholerae, V. mimicus and V. parahaemolyticus was determined at two sampling sites on the Elbe River at Hamburg. A total of 183 strains was isolated from 147 water samples. Of these, 107 belonged to non-01 V. cholerae (ten strains producing a cholera-like enterotoxin); 33 were identified as V. mimicus, including two enterotoxin producers; 42 strains were Kanagawa-negative cultures of V. parahaemolyticus; and one was V. fluvialis. The highest incidence was observed from June to September with about 10(2) organisms/l. Halophilic vibrios, less than five organisms/l, were detectable during the period June/July to October. The vibrio incidence was not influenced by the numbers of aerobic heterotrophic bacteria, coliforms or faecal bacteria. In general water temperature correlated with the seasonal variation. Thus, a temperature rise over 10 degrees to 20 degrees C was followed by a distinct increase in vibrio numbers. Of 14 chemical parameters only chloride concentration might have had an influence on the seasonal variation. It is concluded that the three Vibrio species are indigenous organisms of the Elbe River.

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A total of 318 Campytobacter strains from sporadic cases of human enteritis (109 strains) and healthy slaughterhouse animals in northern Germany (209 strains) were bio-and serotyped according to the Lior typing schemes. Three hundred strains were typable (94.3%) and 38 serovars were identified. Among human strains 28 serovars were identified with 30% of them belonging to serovar 4. Strains from pigs were associated with 25 serovars, the most frequent being serovar 20 (21.2%). Fourteen serovars were identified in the ovine strains of which 31.1% were of serovar 49, and 22.2% of serovar 4. All of the strains from one chicken farm were of serovar 11, whereas in those from another serovar 1 was predominant (85.4%). Twenty-five of the 38 serovars identified were associated with at least two different biovars. Campylobacter jejuni biovar I was predominant in humans, sheep and chickens and Campylobacter coli biovar I in pigs. The results suggest that the combined use of bio-and serotyping according to the Lior typing schemes would be of use in studies on the epidemiology of human campylobacteriosis in Germany.

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A total of 318 Campylobacter strains from sporadic cases of human enteritis (109 strains) and healthy slaughterhouse animals in northern Germany (209 strains) were bio- and serotyped according to the Lior typing schemes. Three hundred strains were typable (94.3%) and 38 serovars were identified. Among human strains 28 serovars were identified with 30% of them belonging to serovar 4. Strains from pigs were associated with 25 serovars, the most frequent being serovar 20 (21.2%). Fourteen serovars were identified in the ovine strains of which 31.1% were of serovar 49, and 22.2% of serovar 4. All of the strains from one chicken farm were of serovar 11, whereas in those from another serovar 1 was predominant (85.4%). Twenty-five of the 38 serovars identified were associated with at least two different biovars. Campylobacter jejuni biovar I was predominant in humans, sheep and chickens and Campylobacter coli biovar I in pigs. The results suggest that the combined use of bio- and serotyping according to the Lior typing schemes would be of use in studies on the epidemiology of human campylobacteriosis in Germany.