[ODP-022] The role of Environmental Water in Kolkata, India in the survival of Vibrio cholerae in this area
Significant number of cholera cases are reported through the year in Kolkata, suggesting that V. cholerae O1 has settled down in the local environment around Kolkata area. To investigate the possibility of environmental water in Kolkata as a reservoir of V. cholerae O1, we chemically analyzed water samples collected there as well as conducted a series of research addressing the possibility of Kolkata water to function as a suitable agent for promoting successful survival of V. cholerae O1 in the environment. First, we found that the mineral ion concentration of Kolkata environmental water is extremely high. Next, to clear the effect of the environmental water on the growth of V. cholerae, we cultured V. cholerae O1 in diluted-L-broth medium containing Kolkata well water. V. cholerae grew well in the medium containing the well water at high ratio, whereas, in the medium containing low ratio of the same well water, V. cholerae did not show detectable growth. Subsequently, we confirmed that the well water in Kolkata significantly promotes the survival of V. cholerae, too. These indicated that mineral ion is deeply involved in the survival of Vibrio. We are further examining the effect of ions on the survival of bacteria in environment in Japan.