Molecular detection and phylogenetic analysis of Vibrio cholerae genotypes in Hillah, Iraq

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Molecular Biology
• Genetics

Background:

• Cholera, a severe diarrheal disease, is caused by Vibrio cholerae.
• Vibrio cholerae outbreaks pose a significant global health challenge.
• Surveillance and molecular characterization are crucial for understanding cholera epidemiology.

Purpose of the Study:

• To molecularly detect and characterize Vibrio cholerae isolates from a cholera outbreak in Iraq.
• To investigate the presence of RTX toxin genes for toxigenicity assessment.
• To perform phylogenetic analysis of V. cholerae isolates for the first time in the region.

Main Methods:

• Sample collection from suspected cholera patients in Hillah, Babylon Governorate, Iraq.
• Isolation and identification of V. cholerae using standard culture techniques.
• Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) for molecular detection and toxigenicity gene analysis (rtxA, rtxB, rtxC).
• DNA sequencing and phylogenetic tree construction using NCBI BLAST.

Main Results:

• Eight V. cholerae isolates were identified from 256 samples.
• PCR confirmed the presence of V. cholerae in these eight isolates.
• Toxigenicity gene analysis showed varying presence: 25% had rtxA and rtxC, 37.5% had rtxB.
• Phylogenetic analysis revealed three distinct phylogenetic positions among the isolates, with some sequence dissimilarities.

Conclusions:

• This study provides the first molecular, sequencing, and phylogenetic data for V. cholerae and its toxins in Babylon Governorate, Iraq.
• The findings highlight genetic diversity among V. cholerae isolates during the 2017 outbreak.
• Molecular surveillance is essential for tracking V. cholerae strains and understanding their pathogenic potential.