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Updated: Jul 2, 2026

Laboratory Techniques Used to Maintain and Differentiate Biotypes of Vibrio cholerae Clinical and Environmental Isolates
07:58

Laboratory Techniques Used to Maintain and Differentiate Biotypes of Vibrio cholerae Clinical and Environmental Isolates

Published on: May 30, 2017

Vibrio cholerae O1 from Accra, Ghana carrying a class 2 integron and the SXT element

Japheth A Opintan1, Mercy J Newman, Owusu Agyemang Nsiah-Poodoh

  • 1Department of Microbiology, University of Ghana Medical School, PO Box 4236, Accra, Ghana.

The Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy
|August 30, 2008
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Vibrio cholerae O1 strains from a 2006 Accra outbreak showed high resistance to trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole due to multiple genetic elements. This indicates trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole should not be used empirically for cholera treatment.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Genetics
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Vibrio cholerae O1 strains from a 2006 outbreak in Accra exhibited widespread antimicrobial resistance.
  • Trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, a common cholera treatment, was frequently ineffective against these strains.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the genetic mechanisms underlying trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole resistance in V. cholerae O1 outbreak isolates.
  • To identify specific resistance genes and mobile genetic elements contributing to drug resistance.

Main Methods:

  • Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and DNA sequencing were used to screen 27 V. cholerae isolates.
  • The study looked for class 1 and 2 integrons and the SXT element.

Main Results:

  • Twenty-one of 27 isolates carried the SXT element and a class 2 integron with dfrA1, sat, and aadA1 resistance cassettes.
  • All resistant isolates shared identical random amplification of polymorphic DNA profiles, suggesting a common source.
  • Two isolates also harbored a class 1 integron.

Conclusions:

  • Most V. cholerae O1 strains from the Accra outbreak possessed multiple genetic elements conferring trimethoprim resistance.
  • The findings strongly suggest that trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole should not be used empirically for cholera treatment in this region.

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