article · BMC Research Notes
Cholera outbreaks in Ethiopia continue to pose public health challenges, but details regarding the distribution of virulence-associated genes in circulating strains have been sparse. An investigation evaluated 125 culture-confirmed Vibrio cholerae isolates collected from human faecal samples across outbreak locations in the Amhara, Oromia, and Addis Ababa regions. Multiplex polymerase chain reaction testing targeted nine specific virulence-associated genes: ompW, tcpA, rfbO1, zot, toxR, rtxC, ace, hlyA, and ompU. Every targeted gene was detected across the sample set. The most prevalent gene was hlyA, present in 84.0 percent of isolates, followed by ompW at 80.8 percent and rfbO1 at 76.8 percent. Other virulence genes, including tcpA, zot, ompU, toxR, ace, and rtxC, each appeared in over two-thirds of samples. All nine genes were present across all three study regions, establishing baseline molecular data on circulating strains.
Understanding which genetic factors make bacterial strains dangerous is essential for managing severe waterborne diseases. By confirming the widespread presence of multiple virulence genes across different regions, this research provides baseline molecular data. Public health officials and epidemiologists can use this information to better track bacterial transmission, anticipate disease severity, and support surveillance programmes during recurring cholera outbreaks.
This study represents early-stage baseline research that does not detail a ready commercial pathway. However, the genetic markers and multiplex polymerase chain reaction profiles could inform diagnostic developers and public health laboratories designing targeted molecular screening panels for regional strains. Practical deployment would require development into standardised testing kits and validation on clinical workflows, placing the work at an early discovery stage.
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Vibrio cholerae remains a major cause of cholera outbreaks in Ethiopia, yet information on the distribution of virulence-associated genes among circulating strains is limited. This study aimed to detect major virulence genes in culture-confirmed V. cholerae isolates recovered from cholera outbreak sites in Ethiopia using multiplex polymerase chain reaction. A total of 125 culture-confirmed V. cholerae isolates recovered from fecal samples collected during cholera outbreaks in Ethiopia were analyzed. Following sub-culture and genomic DNA extraction, multiplex PCR assays were performed to detect nine virulence-associated genes ( ompW , tcpA , rfbO1 , zot , toxR , rtxC , ace , hlyA , and ompU ). All nine target genes were identified among the isolates, although their frequencies varied. The most frequently detected gene was hlyA (84.0%, 105/125), followed by ompW (80.8%, 101/125), rfbO1 (76.8%, 96/125), tcpA (75.2%, 94/125), zot (72.8%, 91/125), ompU and toxR (71.2%, 89/125 each), ace (69.6%, 87/125), and rtxC (68.8%, 86/125). All the virulence genes were observed among isolates obtained from outbreak sites in the Amhara, Oromia, and Addis Ababa regions. The detection of multiple virulence-associated genes highlights the pathogenic potential of outbreak-associated V. cholerae strains and provides baseline molecular data for future epidemiological and genomic investigations in Ethiopia.
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DOI: 10.1186/s13104-026-07985-2
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