Attempts to isolate Vibrio cholerae from different water sources in Lebanon

Abstract

Cholera outbreaks were reported in Lebanon prior to, but not after 1994. There are at least 3 possible reasons for the absence of cholera in Lebanon since 1994. The sources of the causative agent might have been eradicated, improved hygienic practices have been taken, or causative agents were not identified in cholera-like outbreaks. Since drinking water is a source of Vibrio cholerae the objective of this study was to explore the first possibility by trying to isolate V. cholerae from various water sources excluding sea water, in Lebanon. . If successful, improved public health measures would be recommended and possibly a vaccine could be prepared and used to vaccinate individuals living in high risk areasCholera outbreaks were reported in Lebanon prior to, but not after 1994. There are at least 3 possible reasons for the absence of cholera in Lebanon since 1994. The sources of the causative agent might have been eradicated, improved hygienic practices have been taken, or causative agents were not identified in cholera-like outbreaks. Since drinking water is a source of Vibrio cholerae the objective of this study was to explore the first possibility by trying to isolate V. cholerae from various water sources excluding sea water, in Lebanon. . If successful, improved public health measures would be recommended and possibly a vaccine could be prepared and used to vaccinate individuals living in high risk areas.Water and plankton samples were collected in Alkaline Peptone Water and-or Bile Peptone Broth from9 rivers, 4 springs and 1 lake. They were incubated at 370C for 6 hours followed by culturing on TCBS agar. Forty five specimens obtained from different water sites contained bacteria that formed yellow colonies on TCBS, a characteristic of Vibrio sp.Gram staining indicated thatthe bacteria were mainly Gram negative rods or coccobacilli, another characteristic of Vibrio sp.DNA was extracted from the 45 yellow producing-colony isolates and the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed using primers that ampl