Bacteriological diagnosis of cholera under field conditions

Abstract

In underdeveloped countries where laboratory facilities are very meagre bacteriological diagnosis of cholera in outlying areas always presents a difficult problem. Recent studies of media at the Pakistan-SEATO Cholera Research Laboratory show that it is possible to make an accurate bacteriological diagnosis of cholera even in the remotest areas of the province. Two media found most useful are (l) a solid alkaline, bile salt, tellurite, gelatin agar plate which acts as a highly selective medium for Vibrio cholerae, and (2) a liquid alkanine, bile salt, peptone, tellurite medium which acts both as an enrichment and as a preservative fluid. With these two media the bacteriological diagnosis of cholera in rural areas can be approached from two different angles, viz: A) on the spot diagnosis by a mobile team in the field, supplied with media sent out periodically from the base laboratory; and B) central laboratory diagnosis of specimens posted in a preservative fluid medium; reliable results can be had even after a week or more.