Detection of Vibrio cholerae O1 in different habitats of todos Santos Bay, Baja California, Mexico

Abstract

The presence of Vibrio cholerae O1 (Pacini, 1854) in its cultivable and nonculturable stages was studied in water, sediment, plankton and mussel samples, from January to August 1995 in Todos Santos Bay, BC, Mexico. Fifty-two samples were analyzed without finding V. cholerae O1; however, non-O1 V. cholerae was present in 28.8% of the samples. Forty-three strains of non-O1 V. cholerae were isolated, 44% from plankton, 37% from water and 19% from sediment. Non-O1 V. cholerae was not detected in mussel samples. The highest bacterial concentrations of coliforms, heterotrophic bacteria, Vibrio-like bacteria and the highest number of non-O1 V. cholerae were found in the northern part of the bay. The lowest incidence of non-O1 V, cholerae, as well as the lowest concentrations of the other bacterial groups were found in the southern part of the bay, where mussels are commercially cultured.