Aim: Determination of serogroup and PCR-genotyping of Vibrio cholerae non-O1/non-O139 strains isolated from surface basins and sewages of Rostov-on-Don city in 2003 - 2008.
Materials and methods: Seven hundred strains of V. cholerae non-O1/non-O139 serogroups were studied in reaction of slide-agglutination with array of 80 diagnostic sera for non-O1/non-O139 serogroups. Selective screening of strains representing dominating serogroups was performed for extended number of genetic determinants of pathogenicity factors.
Results: It was established that V. cholerae belonging to serogroups O53, O67, O75, and O76 are dominating in water ecosystems of Rostov-on-Don city at this time. All studied strains were characterized by lack of cholera toxin genes and toxin-coregulated pili but had different combinations of genes of additional virulence factors. There was no correlation between genotypic characteristics and serogroup.
Conclusion: The study showed that change of serologic landscape of V. cholerae non-O1/non-O139 occurred in water objects in studied area during last decades. Necessity of dynamic surveillance for circulation of V. cholerae non-O1/non-O139 in aquatic environment with widening of studied spectrum of their biological features was demonstrated.