Toxigenic Vibrio cholerae strains in South-East Queensland, Australian river waterways

V. cholerae is a natural inhabitant of aquatic environments in both freshwater and seawater in addition to its clinical significance as a causative agent of acute diarrhea and extraintestinal infections. Previously, both toxigenic and non-toxigenic, clinical and environmental V. cholerae strains have been reported in Queensland, Australia. This study aimed to characterize a recent surveillance environmental NOVC strains isolated from Queensland River waterways to understand their virulence, antimicrobial resistance profile and to place genetic context among current V. cholerae strains from Australia to international strains. The findings from this study suggest the presence of unique toxigenic V. cholerae in Queensland River water system in present time that are of public health concern. Therefore, ongoing monitoring and genomic characterisation of V. cholerae strains from the Queensland environment is important and would assist public health departments to track the source of cholera infection early and implement prevention strategies for future outbreaks. The genomics of environmental V. cholerae could assists us to understand the natural ecology and evolution of this bacterium in natural environments with respect to global warming and climate change.