VIBRIO-CHOLERAE NON-01 ISOLATED FROM SPORADIC CASES OF DIARRHEA IN RECIFE, BRAZIL

Among 3036 private patients with diarrhea, Vibrio cholerae non-01 was isolated from the stools of 0.7% (4 of 572) children less than two years of age. On the other hand, only one (0.04%) strain was recovered from patients after the second year of life. Apart one infant, who also furnished Campylobacter sp., V. cholerae non-01, when present, was the sole enteric pathogen identified. The invasive character of the infection was suspected, because leukocytes were visualized in most fecal specimens positive for V. cholerae non-01. Cultures showed beta-hemolysis, but none was able to produce the cholera toxin. Despite the small number of isolates, this finding indicates that Recife has ecological conditions capable of supporting V. cholerae.