Frequency of reexposure to Vibrio cholerae O1 evaluated by subsequent vibriocidal titer rise after an episode of severe cholera in a highly endemic area in Bangladesh

• Published in: The American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene Vol. 87; no. 5; pp. 921 - 926
• Main Authors: Weil, Ana A, Chowdhury, Fahima, Khan, Ashraful I, Leung, Daniel T, Uddin, Taher, Begum, Yasmin Ara, Saha, Nirod Chandra, Charles, Richelle C, Larocque, Regina C, Harris, Jason B, Ryan, Edward T, Qadri, Firdausi, Calderwood, Stephen B
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 01.11.2012
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Bangladesh - epidemiology; Child; Cholera - epidemiology; Cholera - immunology; Cholera - microbiology; Colony Count, Microbial; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Vibrio cholerae; Vibrio cholerae - isolation & purification; Bangladesh
• ISSN: 0002-9637; 1476-1645
• DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.2012.12-0323

Vibriocidal antibody is a marker of recent exposure to Vibrio cholerae O1 infection. We examined vibriocidal titers for 1 year after an episode of severe cholera in patients in Dhaka, Bangladesh; 16 of 53 (30%) patients had a fourfold or greater increase in vibriocidal titer between 6 and 12 months after an episode of severe cholera, suggesting reexposure to the organism. Among patients with rises in titers during follow-up, the patients initially infected with serotype Ogawa had earlier rises in titer than the patients initially infected with serotype Inaba. These data and others suggest that an episode of severe cholera protects against symptomatic disease for several years, but reexposure to the organism occurs frequently in an endemic area, with immunological boosts beginning as early as 6 months after severe disease. Repeated exposures to V. cholerae in endemic areas may be a necessary component for long-lasting protection against severe disease.