Surveillance for Toxigenic Vibrio cholerae in Surface Waters of Haiti.

Kahler AM1, Haley BJ1, Chen A1, Mull BJ1, Tarr CL1, Turnsek M1, Katz LS1, Humphrys MS1, Derado G1, Freeman N1, Boncy J1, Colwell RR1, Huq A1, Hill VR2.

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Abstract

Epidemic cholera was reported in Haiti in 2010, with no information available on the occurrence or geographic distribution of toxigenic Vibrio cholerae in Haitian waters. In a series of field visits conducted in Haiti between 2011 and 2013, water and plankton samples were collected at 19 sites. Vibrio cholerae was detected using culture, polymerase chain reaction, and direct viable count methods (DFA-DVC). Cholera toxin genes were detected by polymerase chain reaction in broth enrichments of samples collected in all visits except March 2012. Toxigenic V. cholerae was isolated from river water in 2011 and 2013. Whole genome sequencing revealed that these isolates were a match to the outbreak strain. The DFA-DVC tests were positive for V. cholerae O1 in plankton samples collected from multiple sites. Results of this survey show that toxigenic V. cholerae could be recovered from surface waters in Haiti more than 2 years after the onset of the epidemic.