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Investigation of cholera acquired from the riverine environment in Queensland
Author(s) -
Bourke Anthony T.C.,
Cossins Yvonne M.,
Gray Bruce R.W.,
Lunney Terence J.,
Rostron Neil A.,
Holmes Robert V.,
Larsen Desmond J.,
Kelk Virgil R.,
Griggs Edward R.
Publication year - 1986
Publication title -
medical journal of australia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.904
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1326-5377
pISSN - 0025-729X
DOI - 10.5694/j.1326-5377.1986.tb115883.x
Subject(s) - cholera , vibrio cholerae , organism , biovar , feces , biology , geography , ecology , microbiology and biotechnology , bacteria , paleontology , genetics
Since February 1977, five patients with cholera apparently acquired the infection from the riverine environment in Queensland. A total of 13 rivers have now yielded at least one isolate of Vibrio cholerae O1 biovar El Tor. Investigations indicate that the organism, including toxigenic strains, can survive and multiply in the riverine environment. No human or animal reservoirs and no ecological niches were identified and no route of importation or dissemination of the organism was discovered. The microbiological examination of faeces in all medical laboratories in Australia should include methods for detecting the cholera organism as a routine. When confronted with a cholera infection, medical practitioners should obtain a history of recent travel, both in Australia and overseas.