Bacteriological characteristics and resistance profiles of Vibrio cholerae O1 strains isolated in the Republic of Benin in 2020

This study aims to carry out a bacteriological characterization and determine the resistance profile of Vibrio cholerae O1 strains isolated during the epidemiological season of 2020 in Benin. To achieve this goal, 43 diarrheal stool samples were analyzed. The samples were taken during the epidemic period of 2020. Bacteriological analyses consisted of enrichment of the samples in buffered peptone water followed by culture on SBCT agar. Then the characteristic colonies were subjected to microscopy, biochemical identification (oxidase, seeding and reading of TSI agar and API 20 E gallery), serotyping, and antibiotic sensitivity tests using the diffusion technique in agar medium according Kirby-Bauer method. The median age of the patients included in this study was 25 years (IQR: 15-40) with predominantly female patients. Individuals aged 11 to 25 were the most represented. Of the 43 stool samples analyzed, 22 were culture positive for V. cholerae and belonged to serogroup O1. The clinical manifestations observed in patients with cholera were watery diarrhea, vomiting and severe dehydration before admission to hospital. It should be noted that all of V. cholerae O1 strains isolated were multidrug resistant with a strong resistance to erythromycin (81.13%), ampicillin (79.96%), chloramphenicol (79.06%), and cotrimoxazole (78.12%).   Key words: Bacteriological analyses, Vibrio cholerae O1, antimicrobial resistance, Benin.