[Survival and growth of Vibrio cholerae O139 inside Acanthamoeba].

OBJECTIVE: To study the survival and growth of Vibrio cholerae inside the Acanthamoeba polyphage. METHODS: Survival and growth of Vibro cholerae O139, co-cultured with Acanthamoeba polyphaga, was observed inside the trophozoites and cysts, using Gram stain and electron microscope. RESULTS: Viable O139 was observed inside the amoebal vacuoles in 24 hours. Vacuoles were filled with more bacteria along with the longer period of co-culture. The process of O139 infection with Amoebae would include uptake, formation of O139 vacuole, multiplication, trophozoites lysed and expel under electron microscopy. Some infected trophozoites could subsequently encyst and the surviving O139 could locate in the vesicles inside the cysts. CONCLUSION: O139 might survive and multiply in the trophozoites and reside inside the cysts of Amoebae, suggesting that Acanthamoebae might serve as one of the environmental hosts of Vibro cholerae.