ArticleDiarrheal diseases

Pre-earthquake non-epidemic Vibrio Cholerae in Haiti

Liu J, Winstead-Derlega C, Houpt E, Heidkamp R, Pape JW, Dillingham R

J Infect Dev Ctries 2014; 8 (1): 120-122

Abstract

Introduction: To our knowledge, there was no record of Vibrio cholerae in Haiti until the 2010 post earthquake outbreak.
Methodology: This study describes the analysis of 301 stool samples from 117 infants in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, who participated in a pediatric nutrition study between July 2008 and October 2009.
Results: Nine samples were identified positive with both SYBR Green and Taqman-MGB probe based molecular assays targeting V. cholerae hlyA and toxR, respectively (Ct = 33 – 40), but none were O1 or O139.
Conclusions: Our results from multiple molecular assays demonstrate the presence of non-O1/O139 V. cholerae DNA in stools collected from nine asymptomatic Haitian infants two years prior to the 2010 earthquake.

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