Characterization of a Nonagglutinating Toxigenic Vibrio cholerae Isolate

Abstract

Clinical cases of vibriosis are on the rise due to climate events and ocean warming (1, 2), and increased surveillance of toxigenic Vibrio cholerae strains is now more crucial than ever. While traditional phenotyping using antisera against O1 and O139 is useful for monitoring currently circulating strains with pandemic or epidemic potential, reagents are limited for non-O1/non-O139 strains.

Rapid-onset diarrhoea in HIV patient: The importance of suspecting cholera in non-endemic areas

“…Serogroups O1 and O139, are mainly responsible for cholera epidemics. 1 It exhibits a comma-shaped morphology on Gram stain and thrives in brackish waters, forming biofilms and interacting with aquatic organisms. Cholera pathogenesis relies on its virulence factors, primarily the cholera toxin (CT) encoded by ctxAB genes, which leads to watery diarrhoea by disrupting intestinal cell signalling, causing chloride ion influx, and passive water secretion.…”

“… 7 Consequently, the definitive diagnosis of cholera is often overlooked in such settings, because of low index of suspicion among healthcare professionals. 1 , 7 We describe a case of cholera in an HIV patient who was seen at a semi-urban district hospital located in a cholera non-endemic area before an outbreak of cholera was declared in May 2023.…”