Occurrence, isolation, and identification of emergent pathogens of taxon Vibrio from the Danube river in Bratislava city, Slovakia

Abstract

The occurrence of Vibrio cholerae, Vibrio metschnikovii and Vibrio fluvialis, important aquatic human pathogens of genus Vibrio, were determined in the surface water of the Danube River in Bratislava. The isolates were identified by biochemical tests. Biochemical characteristics of environmental isolates could be slightly different from reference and clinical strains which is reflected in dissimilarity rate, which was in our case not sufficient. A molecular method called amplified ribosomal DNA restriction analysis was used for confirmation of phenotypic identification. The species identity of 19 out of 22 isolates was confirmed, in the case of 3 misidentified ones, the identity of the genus did not change. The identity of all V. cholerae isolates was confirmed by PCR using species-specific gene called ompW. Also, main virulence factors of these isolates were determined. None of the isolates possessed all three virulence factors necessary for the induction of cholera.