Characteristics of cholera strains isolated in Kazakhstan

In the Republic of Kazakhstan there are three types of areas with different cholera infection risk levels for people. Within cholera epidemiological surveillance the cholera strains are annually isolated from people and the environment. In this research, we studied the cholera strains isolated in Kazakhstan for 2013-2015 and they were selected for this study. All cholera strains were locally isolatedfrom people and the environment except one toxigenic imported strain of V. cholerae 01 lnaba which had genes of ctxAB, tcpA. The study showed that there were V cholerae strains which were atypical by their agglutination abilities and sensitivity to cholera phages. It can complicate the cholera laboratory diagnostics especially the diagnostics of V. cholerae О1 and for timely recognition of cholera it is necessary to carry out the diagnostics combined with molecular and genetic methods. For the study of antibiotic sensitivity or resistance we use eight antibacterial preparations. Cholera strains isolated in Kazakhstan did not have antibiotic resistance to the studied preparations. But the cholera strain brought from Pakistan was resistant to ciprofloxacin. The lack of strong resistance of local strains to the antibacterial drugs studied is encouraging in terms of conducting aetiotropic therapy. However, the possibility of entering of antibiotic-resistant strains into Kazakhstan obliges regularly to monitor strains for their sensitivity to antibacterial drugs