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Vibrio furnissii isolated from humans in Peru: a possible human pathogen?
A Dalsgaard1, P Glerup, L L Høybye
1Department of Veterinary Microbiology, Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, Frederiksberg C, Denmark.
Abstract:
During a cholera surveillance programme, Vibrio furnissii was isolated in late January and early February 1994 from stool samples collected from 14 persons of whom six had diarrhoea. The remaining eight persons were healthy family members or neighbours to cholera cases. No common source of infection was found. Strains isolated from stool samples each showed typical biochemical reactions of V. furnissii including gas production. Each isolate, except one, agglutinated O-antisera yielding a total of eight different serotypes. Most isolates were sensitive to 10 antibiotics tested, except to ampicillin and the vibriostatic agent O/129 (10 micrograms). Eight of 14 (57%) strains carried plasmids in the size range 2.6-88 kb, however, no correlation was found between antibiotic susceptibility patterns and plasmid content. Altogether, seven closely related HindIII ribotypes were observed among the 14 V. furnissii isolates studied. V. furnissii strains isolated from family members and other persons living close together often showed different ribotypes suggesting that the isolation was not associated with neighbourhood. Serotyping, plasmid profiling and ribotyping revealed a high strain diversity within V. furnissii, however, the importance of V. furnissii as an enteric pathogen remains to be elucidated.
Insights
Vibrio furnissii was identified in individuals with and without diarrhea during a cholera surveillance program. High strain diversity was observed, but its role as an enteric pathogen requires further investigation.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Public Health
Background:
- Vibrio furnissii is a bacterium that can be found in various environments.
- Its role as a human pathogen, particularly in diarrheal diseases, is not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize Vibrio furnissii isolates obtained during a cholera surveillance program.
- To investigate the diversity and potential pathogenicity of these isolates.
Main Methods:
- Bacterial isolation from stool samples.
- Biochemical characterization, serotyping, antibiotic susceptibility testing, plasmid profiling, and ribotyping of isolates.
Main Results:
- Vibrio furnissii was isolated from both diarrheal and healthy individuals, with no common source identified.
- High diversity was observed in serotypes, plasmid profiles, and ribotypes among the isolates.
- Most strains were susceptible to common antibiotics, with exceptions noted for ampicillin and O/129.
Conclusions:
- Vibrio furnissii exhibits significant strain diversity, as indicated by serotyping, plasmid profiling, and ribotyping.
- The study highlights the need for further research to elucidate the clinical significance and pathogenic potential of Vibrio furnissii in human infections.