To investigate the distribution and pathogenic characteristics of Vibrio cholerae in aquatic products (such as soft-shelled turtles), aquatic environments and humans in Shaanxi Province.
Vibrio cholerae strains reported through the National Pathogen Identification Network from 2021 to 2024 were collected. The distribution of strains from humans and environmental sources was described and analyzed. Serogroup identification and virulence gene detection were performed.Core-genome multilocus sequence typing(cgMLST) and core-genome single nucleotide polymorphism (cgSNP) analyses were performed.
A total of 198 Vibrio cholerae strains were collected from 2021 to 2024, including 14 clinical isolates (9 cases of diarrhea and 5 blood samples) and 184 environmental isolates. The overall environmental positivity rate was 34.65% (184/531), with the highest rate in Xi’an City (66.35%), followed by Ankang City (32.66%) and Hanzhong City (21.93%). The positivity rate in sales part was 42.07%, higher than that in farming part (26.92%). The positivity rate in soft-shelled turtle samples was 46.56%, significantly higher than that in other aquatic products (23.77%). Serotyping revealed 3 O1 strains, 13 O139 strains, and the remainder as non-O1/non-O139. Nine strains were positive for the ctxA gene. cgMLST analysis identified 26 MST Clusters, with all ctxA-positive strains clustering in a single lineage: three ST69 strains formed one cluster and five ST168 strains formed another, while the remaining strains were genetically distant. cgSNP analysis of the 9 ctxA-positive strains showed that ST69 and ST168 strains belonged to distinct lineages, differing by 8 100 SNPs, whereas strains of the same ST type exhibited minimal SNP differences, indicating high genetic stability. The patient isolate from Hanzhong City and the soft-shelled turtle isolate from Ankang City differed by only 2 SNPs.
In Shaanxi Province, Vibrio cholerae in the environment poses a relatively high risk at the farming and sales stages of soft-shelled turtles and other aquatic products, and a small proportion of isolates carry the ctxA virulence gene. Core-genome analysis indicates that toxigenic strains are genetically stable and may be indirectly linked to clinical cases. Surveillance and early warning for diarrheal cases and along the soft-shelled turtle-related production and supply chain should be strengthened to ensure the timely prevention and control of outbreaks.
| 科 Family | 属数 Number of genus | 种数 Number of species | 占总种数比例 Percentage of total species (%) | 属 Genus | 种数 Number of species | 占总种数比例 Percentage of total species (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 鹅膏菌科Amanitaceae | 2 | 11 | 5.26 | 鹅膏菌属 Amanita | 10 | 4.78 |
| 小菇科 Mycenaceae | 2 | 12 | 5.74 | 丝盖伞属 Inocybe | 5 | 2.39 |
| 多孔菌科 Polyporaceae | 8 | 14 | 6.70 | 蜡蘑属 Laccaria | 5 | 2.39 |
| 红菇科 Russulaceae | 3 | 23 | 11.00 | 小皮伞属 Marasmius | 6 | 2.87 |
| 小菇属 Mycena | 11 | 5.26 | ||||
| 光柄菇属 Pluteus | 5 | 2.39 | ||||
| 红菇属 Russula | 17 | 8.13 | ||||
| 栓菌属 Trametes | 5 | 2.39 |