Effect of rehydrating fluid 'Electral' on Vibrio cholerae cells

V. cholerae OGAWA 154 cells underwent rapid loss of colony forming capacity during the first few minutes' incubation in the Electral medium at 37 degrees C, the turbidity of the suspension however increasing with time of incubation and leading to a plateau from 5 min onward. The vibrio suspension in the Electral medium released small amounts of 280 nm and much higher amounts of 260 nm absorbing materials. On withdrawal of the Electral medium, the cells underwent significant liquid holding recovery in the phosphate buffered saline, pH 7. Majority of the cells underwent no significant ultrastructural change but grew into long filamentous forms. The mode of action of the Electral medium on the vibrios is discussed.