Rough Forms of Vibrio Cholerae from Convalescents

Abstract

Conclusions

Within a limited number of 21 cholera cases proven by positive cultures carefully followed up from the beginning to the end of the disease, it has been found that dissociation of cholera vibrio as determined by its chemical, morphological and serological changes was found to occur naturally during convalescence with the development of bacteriophage against the pure smooth cholera cultures.

Occasional non-agglutinable strains of cholera-like vibrios mixed with the slightly agglutinable rough variants of true cholera vibrio have also been isolated during convalescence. But serological reactions do not bring the “NAg” forms into any relationship with either the pure smooth type or the slightly agglutinable rough variants of true cholera vibrio. The “NAg” cholera-like vibrios are not reversible and at present the writer has no means to conclude that they are positively the mutants of true cholera vibrio. On the other hand, the slightly agglutinable rough variants, including the non-motile ones, have a weak somatic antigen in common with the true smooth cholera vibrio. They are reversible and are actually the true rough variants of cholera vibrio apparently resulting from the bacteriophage-action during the natural course of the disease.