Ecology of Vibrio cholerae non-O1 and Salmonella spp. and role of zooplankton in their seasonal distribution in Fukuyama coastal waters, Japan

Abstract

Seasonal variation of human pathogens such as Vibrio Cholerae non-01 and Salmonella spp. in Fukuyama coastal waters and the role of zooplankton in their distribution were studies for a period of 1 year. Comparison of two established methods, viz., the elevated temperature method and the two-step enrichment method of enumerating V. cholerae, showed that the former is superior in the recoveries of V. cholerae non-01. Isolation of this pathogen on a wider range of salinities (0.4 to 32.5%) revealed that these organisms are apparently an autochthonous component of the aquatic environment. Temperature appears to be the most crucial element in governing the distribution of V. cholerae non-01. Among the 69 isolates serotyped, 22 different serovars were identified, while one isolate failed to react with any of the known Louisiana State University antisera tested. Zooplankton samples did not harbor more V. Cholerae non-01 than the water column did. Better isolation of an allochthonous pathogen, viz., Salmonella spp., was noticed from the water samples when swabs were employed. Of the 251 isolates serotyped, 18 serotypes with three variants of Salmonella spp. were identified. A high amount of nutrients in the water column increased the survival rate of these pathogens in saline waters as evidenced by a higher incidence of various serotypes in polluted Fukuyama port than in clean marine waters. Salmonella spp. association between V. cholerae non-01 of Salmonella spp. with zooplankton could be noticed as influencing their seasonal distribution.