The phenotypic and molecular biological characteristics of Vibrio cholerae El Tor strains isolated from environmental water objects in Rostov-on-Don in 2003-2008

The pheno- and genotypic properties of Vibrio cholerae El Tor cultures identified during monitoring for V. cholerae in the aquatic ecosystems of Rostov-on-Don in the period 2003-2008 were studied in the extended range. In addition to known laboratory diagnostic techniques for cholera, the authors used a volume agglomeration test with antilipase diagnosticum, as well as polymerase chain reaction using specific primers to detect 30 nucleotide sequences of the genes associated with V. cholerae pathogenicity. The range of pheno- and genotypic characteristics of study V. cholerae O1 cultures was extended. There was evidence for the volume agglomeration test with a polymerase antilipase agent as a complementary test for toxicogenicity. The Vibrio cholerae O1 strains isolated from the aquatic environment were shown to confer a real and potential risk in the low cholera incidence area of Rostov-on-Don. The findings may be used to improve methodic approaches to monitoring environmental objects for Vibrio cholerae in the optimization of epidemiological surveillance of cholera at the regional level.