Clinical and Environmental Vibrio cholerae Non-O1, Non-O139 Strains from Australia Have Similar Virulence and Antimicrobial Resistance Gene Profiles
Murari Bhandari, Irani U. Rathnayake, Flavia Huygens, Amy V. Jennison
Abstract
Australia has its own V. cholerae strains, both toxigenic and nontoxigenic, that are associated with cholera disease. This study aimed to characterize a collection of clinical and environmental NOVC strains from Australia to understand their virulence and antimicrobial resistance profile and to place strains from Australia in the genetic context of international strains. The findings from this study suggest the toxigenic V. cholerae strains in the Queensland River water system are of public health concern. Therefore, ongoing monitoring and genomic characterization of V. cholerae strains from the Queensland environment are important and would assist public health departments to track the source of cholera infection early and implement prevention strategies for future outbreaks. Understanding the genomics of V. cholerae could also inform the natural ecology and evolution of this bacterium in natural environments.