Characterization of a clinical Vibrio cholerae O139 isolate from Mexico

Can J Microbiol. 2003 Jan;49(1):65-70. doi: 10.1139/w03-004.

Abstract

Pathogenic strains of Vibrio cholerae O139 possess the cholera toxin A subunit (ctxA) gene as well as the gene for toxin co-regulated pili (tcpA). We report the isolation of a ctxA-negative, tcpA-negative V. cholerae O139 strain (INDREI) from a patient in Mexico diagnosed with gastrointestinal illness. Certain phenotypic characteristics of this strain were identical to those of V. cholerae O1 biotype El Tor. Unlike ctxA-positive V. cholerae O139 strains, this strain was sensitive to a wide panel of antibiotics, including ampicillin, chloramphenicol, ciprofloxacin, gentamicin, furazolidone, nalidixic acid, nitrofurantoin, tetracycline, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, and streptomycin, but was resistant to polymyxin B. Ribotype and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis profiles of INDRE1 differed from those of ctxA-positive V. cholerae O139 and other V. cholerae strains. Phenotypic characteristics of the Mexico strain were similar to those reported for V. cholerae O139 isolates from Argentina and Sri Lanka.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology
  • Diarrhea / epidemiology
  • Diarrhea / microbiology
  • Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field
  • Fimbriae Proteins / analysis
  • Humans
  • Mexico / epidemiology
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Ribotyping
  • Vibrio cholerae / classification
  • Vibrio cholerae / drug effects
  • Vibrio cholerae / genetics*
  • Vibrio cholerae / isolation & purification

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • TcpA protein, Vibrio cholerae
  • Fimbriae Proteins