Evolution of Seventh Cholera Pandemic and Origin of 1991 Epidemic, Latin America

Abstract

Thirty single-nucleotide polymorphisms were used to track the spread of the seventh pandemic caused by Vibrio cholerae. Isolates from the 1991 epidemic in Latin America shared a profile with 1970s isolates from Africa, suggesting a possible origin in Africa. Data also showed that the observed genotypes spread easily and widely.

Keywords

• Bacteria
• Vibrio cholerae
• enteric infections
• cholera
• single nucleotide polymorphisms
• pandemic