An indirect fluoresent antibody staining procedure for detection of Vibrio cholerae serovar 01 cells in aquatic environmental samples

Assay for Evaluating the Abundance of Vibrio cholerae and Its O1 Serogroup Subpopulation from Water without DNA Extraction

Cholera is a severe diarrheal disease caused by Vibrio cholerae, a natural inhabitant of brackish water. Effective control of cholera outbreaks depends on prompt detection of the pathogen from clinical specimens and tracking its source in the environment. Although the epidemiology of cholera is well studied, rapid detection of V. cholerae remains a challenge, and data on its abundance in environmental sources are limited. Here, we describe a sensitive molecular quantification assay by qPCR, which can be used on-site in low-resource settings on water without the need for DNA extraction. This newly optimized method exhibited 100% specificity for total V. cholerae as well as V. cholerae O1 and allowed detection of as few as three target CFU per reaction. The limit of detection is as low as 5 × 10³ CFU/L of water after concentrating biomass from the sample. The ability to perform qPCR on water samples without DNA extraction, portable features of the equipment, stability of the reagents at 4 °C and user-friendly online software facilitate fast quantitative analysis of V. cholerae. These characteristics make this assay extremely useful for field research in resource-poor settings and could support continuous monitoring in cholera-endemic areas.

Environmental parameters associated with incidence and transmission of pathogenic Vibrio spp

Vibrio spp. thrive in warm water and moderate salinity, and they are associated with aquatic invertebrates, notably crustaceans and zooplankton. At least 12 Vibrio spp. are known to cause infection in humans, and Vibrio cholerae is well documented as the etiological agent of pandemic cholera. Pathogenic non-cholera Vibrio spp., e.g., Vibrio parahaemolyticus and Vibrio vulnificus, cause gastroenteritis, septicemia, and other extra-intestinal infections. Incidence of vibriosis is rising globally, with evidence that anthropogenic factors, primarily emissions of carbon dioxide associated with atmospheric warming and more frequent and intense heatwaves, significantly influence environmental parameters, e.g., temperature, salinity, and nutrients, all of which can enhance growth of Vibrio spp. in aquatic ecosystems. It is not possible to eliminate Vibrio spp., as they are autochthonous to the aquatic environment and many play a critical role in carbon and nitrogen cycling. Risk prediction models provide an early warning that is essential for safeguarding public health. This is especially important for regions of the world vulnerable to infrastructure instability, including lack of 'water, sanitation, and hygiene' (WASH), and a less resilient infrastructure that is vulnerable to natural calamity, e.g., hurricanes, floods, and earthquakes, and/or social disruption and civil unrest, arising from war, coups, political crisis, and economic recession. Incorporating environmental, social, and behavioural parameters into such models allows improved prediction, particularly of cholera epidemics. We have reported that damage to WASH infrastructure, coupled with elevated air temperatures and followed by above average rainfall, promotes exposure of a population to contaminated water and increases the risk of an outbreak of cholera. Interestingly, global predictive risk models successful for cholera have the potential, with modification, to predict diseases caused by other clinically relevant Vibrio spp. In the research reported here, the focus was on environmental parameters associated with incidence and distribution of clinically relevant Vibrio spp. and their role in disease transmission. In addition, molecular methods designed for detection and enumeration proved useful for predictive modelling and are described, namely in the context of prediction of environmental conditions favourable to Vibrio spp., hence human health risk.

Detection, isolation, and identification of Vibrio cholerae from the environment

Recent molecular advances in microbiology have greatly improved the detection of bacterial pathogens in the environment. These improvements and a downward trend in the cost of molecular detection methods have contributed to increased frequency of detection of pathogenic microorganisms where traditional culture-based detection methods have failed. Culture methods also have been greatly improved, and the confluence of the two suites of methods provides a powerful tool for detection, isolation, and characterization of pathogens. While molecular detection provides data on the presence and type of pathogens, culturing methods allow a researcher to preserve the organism of interest for "-omics" studies, such as genomic, metabolomic, secretomic, and transcriptomic analysis, which are rapidly becoming more affordable. This has yielded a clearer understanding of the ecology and epidemiology of microorganisms that cause disease. In this unit, we present commonly accepted methods for isolation, detection, and characterization of V. cholerae, providing more extensive knowledge of the ecology and epidemiology of this organism. This unit has been fully revised and updated from the earlier version with the latest knowledge and additional information not previously included.

Fluorescent staining of bacteria: viability and antibody labeling

This appendix presents several methods for using fluorescence to evaluate bacterial viability and to explore the cell surface for the presence of various antigens for diagnostic and taxonomic purposes. The use of fluorescent labeling will allow fast and accurate analysis and monitoring of microbial populations in ecological and clinical environments.

Detection, isolation, and identification of Vibrio cholerae from the environment

Microbiological techniques for sampling the aquatic realm have become increasingly sophisticated, especially with advances in molecular biology. These techniques have been used to detect microorganisms that cannot be cultured by conventional bacteriological methods. This has resulted in a deeper and a clearer understanding of the ecology and epidemiology of microorganisms. Important advances have been made in isolation, detection, and identification of Vibrio cholerae over the past decade. The understanding that V. cholerae, like several other pathogenic bacteria, can enter into a state known as "viable but nonculturable" (VBNC) provided important clues on the epidemiology of the pathogen and its ability to cause sudden explosive epidemics at multiple places almost simultaneously. The advances in techniques have also allowed investigators to discern the intricate aspects of the ecology of this pathogen in the aquatic world. In this unit, we present the most accepted methods for the isolation and detection of V. cholerae.

Detection of viable and viable nonculturable Vibrio cholerae O1 through cultures and immunofluorescence in the Tucumán rivers, Argentina

Vibrio cholerae has been sporadically isolated from rivers in Tucumán, Argentina, since the outbreak in 1991. The aim of this study was to determine the environmental reservoir of the bacterium in these rivers, assessing the presence of Vibrio cholerae non-O1 and O1 (the latter both in its viable culturable and non culturable state) and its relationship to environmental physicochemical variables. 18 water samplings were collected in the Salí River (in Canal Norte and Banda) and the Lules River between 2003 and 2005. Physical-chemical measurements (pH, water temperature, electrical conductivity and dissolved oxygen) were examined. Vibrio cholerae was investigated with conventional culture methods and with Direct Immunofluorescence (DFA-VNC) in order to detect viable non culturable organisms. All isolated microorganisms corresponded to Vibrio cholerae non-O1 and non-O139 (Lules 26%, Canal Norte 33% and Banda 41%). The majority was found during spring and summer and correlated with temperature and pH. Non culturable Vibrio cholerae O1 was detected year round in 38 of the 54 water samples analyzed. Application of the Pearson correlation coefficient revealed that there was no relationship between positive immunofluorescence results and environmental physicochemical parameters. Genes coding for somatic antigen O1 were confirmed in all DFA-VNC-positive samples, whereas the virulence-associated ctxA and tcpA genes were confirmed in 24 samples.

Immunosensor for the detection of Vibrio cholerae O1 using surface plasmon resonance

An immunosensor for the detection of Vibrio cholerae O1 was developed on the basis of surface plasmon resonance (SPR). A protein G layer was fabricated by means of the chemical coupling between the free amine (-NH2) groups of protein G and the activated carboxyl groups present on a self-assembled monolayer (SAM) consisting of a mixture of 11-mercaptoundecanoic acid (MUA) and hexanethiol (molar ratio of 1:2). A monoclonal antibody, which was confirmed to be specific to V. cholera O1 by the Western blotting technique, was immobilized on the protein G layer. The formation of the SAM, the protein G layer and the sequential binding of the antibody against V. cholera O1 were investigated with SPR spectroscopy. As the number of fabricated layers increased, the minimum angle of plasmon resonance was increased accordingly. The target bacteria, V. cholera O1, was measured with the fabricated immunosensor, whose detection range was between 10(5) and 10(9) cells/mL.

Associação de Vibrio cholerae com o zooplâncton de águas estuárias da Baía de São Marcos/São Luis - MA, Brasil

Foi investigado, no período de outubro de 1997 a outubro de 1998, a possível associação de Vibrio cholerae com o zooplâncton dos estuários dos rios Anil e Bacanga, em São Luis - MA, Brasil, a presença da forma viável, mas não cultivável de Vibrio cholerae O1 e a correlação entre pH, salinidade e temperatura da água com a sobrevivência da bactéria. Amostras de zooplâncton foram coletadas em dois pontos fixos em cada estuário. O método clássico de isolamento e imunofluorescência direta foram empregados na detecção da bactéria. Nas 52 amostras obtidas de zooplâncton houve predomínio de Copepodes. O cultivo permitiu a obtenção de 55 isolados de Vibrio cholerae não O1. Os sorogrupos O1 e O139 foram demonstrados, respectivamente em 37 (71,1%) e 17 (32,7%) na imunofluorescência. Formas viáveis, mas não cultiváveis de Vibrio cholerae O1 foram detectadas em 70,8% das amostras estudadas. Correlação significativa foi constatada entre salinidade e pH da água e isolamento de Vibrio cholerae.

In situ measured elimination of Vibrio cholerae from brackish water

In situ elimination of fluorescently labelled Vibrio cholerae (FLB) was measured in two saline water bodies in Mexico: in a brackish water lagoon, Mecoacán (Gulf of Mexico; State of Tabasco) and an athalassohaline lake, Alchichica (State of Puebla). Disappearance rates of fluorescently labelled V. cholera O1 showed that they were eliminated from the environment at an average rate of 32% and 63%/day, respectively (based on the bacterial standing stocks). The indirect immunofluorescence method confirmed the presence of V. cholerae O1 in the lagoon. However, the elimination of FLB was not directly related either to the presence or absence of the bacterium in the water body or to the phytoplankton concentration.

Growth of Vibrio cholerae O1 in red tide waters off California

Vibrio cholerae serotype O1 is autochthonous to estuarine and coastal waters. However, its population dynamics in such environments are not well understood. We tested the proliferation of V. cholerae N16961 during a Lingulodinium polyedrum bloom, as well as other seawater conditions. Microcosms containing 100-kDa-filtered seawater were inoculated with V. cholerae or the 0.6- micro m-pore-size filterable fraction of seawater assemblages. These cultures were diluted 10-fold with fresh 100-kDa-filtered seawater every 48 h for four cycles. Growth rates ranged from 0.3 to 14.3 day(-1) (4.2 day(-1) +/- 3.9) for V. cholerae and 0.1 to 9.7 day(-1) (2.2 +/- 2.8 day(-1)) for bacterial assemblage. Our results suggest that dissolved organic matter during intense phytoplankton blooms has the potential to support explosive growth of V. cholerae in seawater. Under the conditions tested, free-living V. cholerae was able to reach concentrations per milliliter that were up to 3 orders of magnitude higher than the known minimum infectious dose (10(4) cell ml(-1)) and remained viable under many conditions. If applicable to the complex conditions in marine ecosystems, our results suggest an important role of the growth of free-living V. cholerae in disease propagation and prevention during phytoplankton blooms.

Genetic and immunochemical characterization of thiocyanate-degrading bacteria in lake water

Natural aquatic and soil samples were screened for the presence of thiocyanate-degrading bacteria. Using thiocyanate supplementation, we established an enrichment culture containing such bacteria from lake water. The dominant bacteria had the scnC-LS5 gene encoding thiocyanate hydrolase, which was closely related to the enzyme found previously in Thiobacillus thioparus THI115 isolated from activated sludge.

Response of pathogenic Vibrio species to high hydrostatic pressure

Vibrio parahaemolyticus ATCC 17802, Vibrio vulnificus ATCC 27562, Vibrio cholerae O:1 ATCC 14035, Vibrio cholerae non-O:1 ATCC 14547, Vibrio hollisae ATCC 33564, and Vibrio mimicus ATCC 33653 were treated with 200 to 300 MPa for 5 to 15 min at 25 degrees C. High hydrostatic pressure inactivated all strains of pathogenic Vibrio without triggering a viable but nonculturable (VBNC) state; however, cells already existing in a VBNC state appeared to possess greater pressure resistance.

Global climate and infectious disease: the cholera paradigm

The origin of cholera has been elusive, even though scientific evidence clearly shows it is a waterborne disease. However, standard bacteriological procedures for isolation of the cholera vibrio from environmental samples, including water, between epidemics generally were unsuccessful. Vibrio cholerae, a marine vibrio, requiring salt for growth, enters into a dormant, viable but nonculturable stage when conditions are unfavorable for growth and reproduction. The association of Vibrio cholerae with plankton, notably copepods, provides further evidence for the environmental origin of cholera, as well as an explanation for the sporadic and erratic occurrence of cholera epidemics. On a global scale, cholera epidemics can now be related to climate and climatic events, such as El Niño, as well as the global distribution of the plankton host. Remote sensing, with the use of satellite imagery, offers the potential for predicting conditions conducive to cholera outbreaks or epidemics.

Rapid detection of Vibrio parahaemolyticus in oysters by immunofluorescence microscopy

A method of indirect immunofluorescence microscopy was developed for the rapid detection of Vibrio parahaemolyticus in oysters. Affinity-purified antibodies against two outer membrane proteins (molecular mass 36 and 34 kDa, respectively) of V. parahaemolyticus were used as the primary antibodies to label the vibrio, and fluorescein isothiocyanate-conjugated goat anti-rabbit immunoglobulin G was used to reveal the antigen-antibody reaction. Of 85 strains of V. parahaemolyticus tested, all produced strong fluorescence under the fluorescence microscope. However, for 63 strains (including 27 vibrios) of other bacteria tested, 6 produced weak to moderate fluorescence. The sensitivity and specificity of the immunostaining technique were 100 and 90.5%, respectively. In the inoculation experiments, as low as 1.7 CFU/g of V. parahaemolyticus spiked in oysters could be detected by the immunostaining method after 18-h enrichment in alkaline peptone water containing 3% NaCl. The immunofluorescence microscopy is recommended for rapid screening of V. parahaemolyticus in oysters; a presumptive positive result could be obtained within 24 h.

Cholera DFA: an improved direct fluorescent monoclonal antibody staining kit for rapid detection and enumeration of Vibrio cholerae O1

An improved fluorescent monoclonal antibody staining kit, Cholera DFA, for direct detection and enumeration of Vibrio cholerae O1 has been developed, employing a highly specific anti-A antigen monoclonal antibody, COLTA, labeled with fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC). An optimized quantity of anti-photobleaching agent is used in a glycerol mounting medium to retard the rapid fading of immunofluorescent stained cells during fluorescent microscopy, thus enabling prolonged inspection of individual fields, as well as improved photographic recording of results without loss of fluorescence intensity. When tested for specificity, all 30 strains of V. cholerae O1 reacted with Cholera DFA, whereas 100 heterologous species examined did not, yielding 100% specificity for all strains examined in this study. A field trial was conducted in Bangladesh, employing Cholera DFA and the results were compared with those obtained by conventional culture methods. Of 44 diarrheal stool specimens tested, Cholera DFA was positive for V. cholerae O1 in all culture-positive stool specimens and negative for all culture-negative stool specimens. The procedure is sensitive and highly specific, as well as simple, i.e., less complex than the indirect fluorescent assay, requiring only one reagent and less than 30 min to complete the staining process, while retarding rapid fading that often occurs with fluorescent microscopy.

Rapid detection of salmonellas in raw meats using a fluorescent antibody-microcolony technique

A fluorescent antibody-microcolony technique was developed for the rapid detection of salmonellas in pure cultures. Examination of microcolonies made the detection of salmonellas by epifluorescence microscopy easier and more reliable than using fluorescent antibody and single cells. After a study of the most effective selective enrichment media for increasing the number of salmonellas, the technique was examined with various samples of raw meats. It was able to detect salmonellas in 24 h and appeared to be as sensitive as conventional cultural techniques. Of the 101 samples studied, complete agreement was obtained with conventional methods for 94 but six apparently false positive results and one false negative result occurred.

Detection of Vibrio cholerae with monoclonal antibodies specific for serovar O1 lipopolysaccharide

Six hybridoma cell lines, each of which produced a monoclonal antibody (MAb) against Vibrio cholerae O1 lipopolysaccharide (LPS), were established. Each MAb was active serologically by both enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and the slide agglutination test. In the ELISA, each MAb was tested against 7 O1 and 9 non-O1 LPS preparations. Three MAbs reacted with both Inaba and Ogawa serovars (A antigen), two MAbs reacted with the Ogawa serovars only (B antigen), and one MAb reacted with the Inaba serovars only (C antigen). Each MAb was also tested in the ELISA against whole-cell preparations of 37 O1 and 52 non-O1 V. cholerae serovars, 20 heterologous Vibrio species, and 37 heterologous bacterial species. The MAbs reacted with V. cholerae O1 cells only, except for one anti-A antigen MAb which reacted weakly with five V. cholerae non-O1 serovars and Serratia marcescens. Each anti-A antigen MAb was labeled with fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) and tested by direct immunofluorescence against selected O1 and non-O1 serovars. Each MAb-FITC conjugate, when tested alone, exhibited O1-specific fluorescence; however, mixtures of the MAb-FITC dramatically enhanced fluorescence intensity on O1 cells. This finding was also visualized by immunoelectron microscopy on both thin-sectioned and negatively stained O1 cells by using an anti-mouse immunoglobulin-colloidal gold conjugate. These results suggest that the A antigen can be described by more than one epitope and that a superior serotyping reagent can be prepared from a defined mixture of MAbs.

Indicator organisms for estuarine and marine waters

Abstract The use of indicator organisms for estuarine and coastal waters has been reviewed. The natural flora of the environment must be considered in selecting an indicator organism, but, more importantly, recent work which shows a viable but non‐recoverable stage of pathogens entering the marine environment demonstrates that the conventional detection of indicator microorganisms is misleading, if not inaccurate. Results suggest that the newly developed epifluorescent/immunofluorescent direct detection of pathogens in the environment may be the most reliable method for determining public health hazards in marine and estuarine waters.