The Vibrio Cholerae Isolated During Cholera Epidemics in Korea in 1969 and 1970

ABSTRACT

Recently, two successive epidemics of cholera were observed in Korea. The first one started in Suhchun-Goon of Choong-Chung-Namdo in August 1969, and the 2nd in Changyoung-Goon of Kyung Sang-Namdo in August 1970. With stool specimens collected from patients in Suhchun, Ko-Chang, Seoul, Inchun, Youngkwang, Chang-hang and Wooljin were epidemic areas in l969, and from patients in Chang-Young, Pusan, Taegu, and Seoul which were epidemic areas in l970, studies were carried out in 1) the isolation and identification of cholera vibrio strains 2) the differentiation of E1 Tor vibrio from classic cholera strains 3) the liberation test of Kappa-type phages and 4) El Tor phage typing. Five strains, which were isolated in the epidemic area of the Philippines in l969 were included for a comparative study. The results are summarized as follows. 1) The epidemic strains of 1969 were identified as Vibrio cholerae, Celebes type El Tor and those of 1970 epidemic as Vibrio cholerae, biotype El Tor, El Tor phage type IV. 2) Korean strains and Philippine strains of 1969 epidemic appeared to be identical in biochemical and serological tests and phage susceptibility tests.