Epidemiology: Open Access
Open Access

Abstract

Non-O1 Vibrio cholerae are involved in a wide range of clinical manifestations, including enteritis (otitis, appendicitis,
pneumonia, meningitis, septicemia, etc.) and are also prevalent in our latitudes, at the level of fresh water, seawater and
sewage. In this survey, we ascertained the spread of non-O1 Vibrio cholerae in streams of Parma province (Italy) and compared
the phenotypic profile of our isolates with those found in a previous analysis, from ornamental fishes, imported from Asia and
Latin America. The water samples were filtered on a membrane. The filter was incubated in alkaline peptone water at pH 8.5 at
37°C for 6 hours and, after enrichment, was seeded for isolation on TCBS agar. Strains suspected, grown on Kligler agar, after
screening assays, were definitely identified by gallery API 20E. The phenotypic profile was completed by extensive biochemicalenzymatic
assays and by susceptibility testing to antibiotics. Thirty-eight strains (B group) of non-O1 V. cholerae were isolated.
Their phenotypic profile, like that of the 19 strains (A group), isolated from ornamental fishes, and was perfectly congruent
with the needs of identification species. In A group, twelve different resistance combinations were observed; in B group, ten.
The resistance associations were also larger in A group, extending to 8 and 7 antibiotics, in two and five cases, respectively.
Within B group, the multiple resistances have affected 6 antibiotics and have highlighted a group of 4 strains with resistance to
Penicillin alone. We can argue, reasonably, that the isolates are indigenous in our waters and, presumably, spread throughout
territory.

Biography

Maria Cristina Ossiprandi Graduated in Veterinary Medicine from the University of Parma and is a Associate Professor in the Animal Health Department of the
Microbiology and Immunology Sector of the Veterinary Medicine Faculty, Parma University. She is the Director of School of Specialization in Animal Health,
Farming/Breeding and Livestock Production at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Parma CINECA referee until 2010. She is actually Pro-Rector in Didactic
Activities Representative scientist of Emilia Romagna (regional) project called Sybilla (predictive microbiology). She is the author of 82 scientific papers in national
and international journal.