Non-O1/O139 environmental Vibrio cholerae from Northern Cameroon reveals potential intra-/inter-continental transmissions.

Northern Cameroon in Central Africa has experienced recurring cholera outbreaks despite ongoing efforts to control the disease. While most cholera studies focus on O1 pandemic Vibrio cholerae strains, non-O1/O139 strains are increasingly recognized for their infection potential and dynamic relations...

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Main Authors: Deborah Yebon Kang, Mohammad Tarequl Islam, Roméo Wakayansam Bouba, Zoua Wadoubé, Moussa Djaouda, Yann Felix Boucher
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2025-04-01
Series:PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0012890
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author Deborah Yebon Kang
Mohammad Tarequl Islam
Roméo Wakayansam Bouba
Zoua Wadoubé
Moussa Djaouda
Yann Felix Boucher
author_facet Deborah Yebon Kang
Mohammad Tarequl Islam
Roméo Wakayansam Bouba
Zoua Wadoubé
Moussa Djaouda
Yann Felix Boucher
author_sort Deborah Yebon Kang
collection DOAJ
description Northern Cameroon in Central Africa has experienced recurring cholera outbreaks despite ongoing efforts to control the disease. While most cholera studies focus on O1 pandemic Vibrio cholerae strains, non-O1/O139 strains are increasingly recognized for their infection potential and dynamic relationships with O1 strains during outbreaks. Here we explore the genetic diversity and phylogenetic relationships of non-O1/O139 V. cholerae (NOVC) isolated from environmental water sources in Northern Cameroon. These NOVC strains show significant genetic diversity and virulence potential. They are closely related to environmental strains from Kenya and clinical strains from Argentina and Haiti, suggesting transmissions across countries and continents, likely facilitated by human carriers. The highly conserved tcpA gene found in some strains from Cameroon is closely related to the tcpA O1 Classical type, suggesting direct or indirect genetic interactions between these environmental NOVC strains and pandemic strains. Our findings underscore the importance of environmental surveillance and further studies of NOVC strains to better understand cholera outbreaks.
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institution DOAJ
issn 1935-2727
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language English
publishDate 2025-04-01
publisher Public Library of Science (PLoS)
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series PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases
spelling doaj-art-8cd5847e2178487fa76fb74aee48400b2025-08-20T02:55:57ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases1935-27271935-27352025-04-01194e001289010.1371/journal.pntd.0012890Non-O1/O139 environmental Vibrio cholerae from Northern Cameroon reveals potential intra-/inter-continental transmissions.Deborah Yebon KangMohammad Tarequl IslamRoméo Wakayansam BoubaZoua WadoubéMoussa DjaoudaYann Felix BoucherNorthern Cameroon in Central Africa has experienced recurring cholera outbreaks despite ongoing efforts to control the disease. While most cholera studies focus on O1 pandemic Vibrio cholerae strains, non-O1/O139 strains are increasingly recognized for their infection potential and dynamic relationships with O1 strains during outbreaks. Here we explore the genetic diversity and phylogenetic relationships of non-O1/O139 V. cholerae (NOVC) isolated from environmental water sources in Northern Cameroon. These NOVC strains show significant genetic diversity and virulence potential. They are closely related to environmental strains from Kenya and clinical strains from Argentina and Haiti, suggesting transmissions across countries and continents, likely facilitated by human carriers. The highly conserved tcpA gene found in some strains from Cameroon is closely related to the tcpA O1 Classical type, suggesting direct or indirect genetic interactions between these environmental NOVC strains and pandemic strains. Our findings underscore the importance of environmental surveillance and further studies of NOVC strains to better understand cholera outbreaks.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0012890
spellingShingle Deborah Yebon Kang
Mohammad Tarequl Islam
Roméo Wakayansam Bouba
Zoua Wadoubé
Moussa Djaouda
Yann Felix Boucher
Non-O1/O139 environmental Vibrio cholerae from Northern Cameroon reveals potential intra-/inter-continental transmissions.
PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases
title Non-O1/O139 environmental Vibrio cholerae from Northern Cameroon reveals potential intra-/inter-continental transmissions.
title_full Non-O1/O139 environmental Vibrio cholerae from Northern Cameroon reveals potential intra-/inter-continental transmissions.
title_fullStr Non-O1/O139 environmental Vibrio cholerae from Northern Cameroon reveals potential intra-/inter-continental transmissions.
title_full_unstemmed Non-O1/O139 environmental Vibrio cholerae from Northern Cameroon reveals potential intra-/inter-continental transmissions.
title_short Non-O1/O139 environmental Vibrio cholerae from Northern Cameroon reveals potential intra-/inter-continental transmissions.
title_sort non o1 o139 environmental vibrio cholerae from northern cameroon reveals potential intra inter continental transmissions
url https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0012890
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