Examination of reservoirs of the cholera toxin gene in coastal waters

Vibrios are an important part of the marine ecology and also include significant pathogens of humans and both vertebrate and invertebrate marine organisms. Here we evaluate an enrichment procedure for improved detection of V. cholerae and V. vulnificus, two known pathogenic vibrios. Results of our study conclude that using natural estuarine water amended with 1% peptone increases the recovery of V. cholerae and cholera toxin gene (ctx), while the traditional method proves to be better for V. vulnificus recovery. The cholera toxin genes are commonly known to harbor in V. cholerae and V.mimicus, in our study we are examining potential reservoirs of the cholera toxin gene in vibrios. The presence of ctx in other vibrios suggests the potential emergence of new toxigenic vibrios, which could be of a public health concern.