Changing epidemiology and antimicrobial resistance in Vibrio cholerae: AMR surveillance findings (2006–2016) from Nepal

Cholera is an acute diarrheal illness caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae [1]. Until now, seven distinct pandemics of cholera have been recorded [2]. The earlier pandemics were caused by the classical biotype of V. cholerae O1, whereas the 7th ongoing pandemic is caused by serogroup O1 El Tor and has been the most extensive in geographical spread and duration [3]. Outbreak of epidemic cholera caused by a non-O1 strain of V. cholerae designated V. cholerae 0139 has also been reported from various parts of Bangladesh, India and other countries [4]. Globally, there are an estimated 3–5 million cholera cases and 100,000–120,000 deaths every year. Commonly, lack of prompt, proper treatment leads to shock within 6–12 h followed by death occurring between18 h and several days [5].

Over the past few years, V. cholerae O1 biotype El Tor causing Asiatic cholera has shown remarkable changes in its phenotypic and genetic characteristics [6]. The most recent development in the evolution of global cholera has been the emergence and spread of a new variant ET, or altered ET, in Bangladesh that carries ctxB of the classical (CL) biotype (ctxBCL) [7]. According to recent reports, altered ET strains have been spreading globally [8‐15] causing more severe disease [16].

In Nepal, cholera is endemic. Every year, cases of cholera occur sporadically or as outbreaks. Diarrhea and gastroenteritis (including cholera and dysentery) comes in second position among top ten causes of inpatient morbidity and top ten reasons for OPD consultation. in Nepal (DoHS, 2017). It has also been included among one of the six outbreak potential diseases and are reported immediately through the Early Warning Reporting System (EWARS) to the National Epidemiology and Disease Control division (EDCD, 2017). In a decade, six episodes of laboratory confirmed cholera outbreak has been recorded by NPHL.

Flowchart for sample processing

Nepal reported 6 outbreaks in 18 districts (of 77), on 6 out of 7 provinces (Fig. 1), from 2006 to 2016. A total of 836 V.cholerae isolates were reported in a period of 11 years (2006–2016) from 11 participating laboratories including NPHL. The highest number was reported in 2007(Fig. 1). Among the participating laboratories, 42% were reported from Patan hospital, followed by NPHL and Sukraraj tropical and Infectious Disease Hospital (Fig. 2).

All the isolates verified at NPHL were of O1 serogroup and Eltor biotype. Of the total 87% (724) were V.cholerae O1 Ogawa, 12% (103) were V.cholerae O1 Inaba and only 1% [6] isolates were of V.cholerae O1 Hikojima serotype. However the prevalent serotype kept changing over the years. In 2006, V. cholerae O1 Inaba was predominant, by 2007 all serotypes V. cholerae O1 Eltor Ogawa, Inaba & Hikojima were observed. During 2008–2016, V. cholerae O1 Ogawa predominated again with one case each of V. cholerae O1 Inaba in recent years (Table 1).

Cholera cases peaked in monsoon season (June to august). Overall, infection was higher in males as compared to females but no significant difference was observed. Among both the gender, infection was predominant in 21–30 years age group (Fig. 3).

Rapid fluctuation in antimicrobial susceptibility trend among Vibrio cholerae was observed over the years and is demonstrated in Fig. 4.Resistance to ampicillin decreased from 93% in 2006 to 18% by 2010 and again rose to 100% by 2016. Cotrimoxazole resistance fluctuated between 76 and 100%. All the isolates were sensitive to ciprofloxacin till 2006; resistance emerged in 2007, peaked during 2012 and declined to 0 by 2016. After several years in which V. cholerae was uniformly susceptible to tetracycline, a sudden upsurge in tetracycline resistance was noted, from 0% in 2006 to 40% in 2007 before decreasing to 8% in 2009. A significant decline in furazolidone resistant isolates was observed in this study period (100% in 2006 to 5% in 2016). All the isolates were sensitive to ceftriaxone; however since 2013, isolates showing partial susceptibility has also been reported. In 2016, one isolate was resistant to ceftriaxone.

Of the total, 61.9% isolates (518/836) were Multidrug resistant. Of them, 4.1% (21/518) were resistant to five classes of antibiotics, 34.5% (179/518) were resistant to four classes and 61% (357/532) were resistant to three classes of antibiotics tested. The most common resistotype was isolates exhibiting simultaneous resistance to ampicillin, cotrimoxazole and quinolones (Table 2).

Cholera, its sudden and explosive onset in the form of an outbreak or epidemic, coupled with high mortality and morbidity rates, still persists as a major health problem in Nepal. The present article gives a review of the cholera scenario based on biotype, serotype and antimicrobial susceptibility in our area from 2006 to 2016.

All the V.cholerae isolated over 11 years was of O1 serogroup, no isolate of non-O1 serogroup has been reported from Nepal so far. However, outbreaks due to non-O1 serogroups have been reported from India and Bangladesh [18‐21]. In our study, all the V.cholerae isolates received and verified at NPHL were of El Tor biotype, which is in accordance to other studies [22‐26] but contrary to study made by Rojina et al., in 2012, which reports 22 V.cholerae isolated at Sukraraj tropical and Infectious disease hospital to be of Classical Biotype [27]. Since, the hospital was included in AMR surveillance since 2013 only, the isolates were reported but not verified at NPHL.

Over a period of 11 years, interesting changes in prevalent serotype of V.cholerae was observed. Studies made before 2005, revealed Ogawa as the predominant serotype whereas during 2006, Inaba predominated. By 2007, all three serotypes were found. After nearly 9 years, by 2015 and 2016, one case of Inaba was seen, which may be an indication that gradually there may again be a conversion. Periodic shifts in the incidence of Ogawa and Inaba serotypes in a given area is a common phenomenon and is thought to be a consequence of genetic reversal that occurs both in vitro and in vivo [28, 29]. Such observation has been reported from various national and international studies [18, 30‐32].

Up to now, all the reported outbreak and sporadic cases were mostly concentrated in Central and Far-western part of the country; however, few cases were also reported from eastern part. The hill districts of the mid and far western development regions are particularly affected due to its remoteness, poor and difficult accessibility, inadequate public health facilities and poor water and sanitation conditions. In the central region the supply of safe drinking water is inadequate due to increase in urban population density due to which people are forced to drink water from any available source with or without prior treatment. Other factors like floods, landslides, open defecation practices, breakdown in sanitation and in the supply of safe water also contribute to frequent cases of cholera [33].

Overall infection was higher in males, of adult age group (21–30 yrs). Study conducted by Uthappa et al. also supports 12% attack rate in males, but higher incidence in children of 6–14 years age group. Studies made by Bhandari et al. and Gupta et al. in Nepal have reported 33.3% in 15–44 years age group and 48.8% in 20–39 years age group, similar to our study [33, 34].

Resistance patterns in V. cholerae are known to fluctuate rapidly because it cannot stably carry plasmids that confer resistance and because the organism naturally resides in aquatic environments devoid of selective pressure from antibiotics [35, 36]. Our study has also shown dramatic fluctuations in resistance to routinely used antibiotics. High resistance against cotrimoxazole, nalidixic acid and furazolidone (90–100%) was evident since 2006. Such high resistances to cotrimoxazole and nalidixic acid have also been reported from Mozambique [37, 38], Zambia [39], India [40‐42] and Haiti [43]. Along the years, ampicillin resistance fluctuated. Some studies have shown 100% resistance [39, 44] while some has shown increasing resistance [45].

The reason behind the sudden upsurge and subsequent decline in ciprofloxacin and tetracycline resistance is unknown; however, the decline in tetracycline resistance has also been reported from other areas [40, 42, 43]. Studies made by Karlsson et al. [43] and Mala et al. [46] have reported susceptibility to tetracycline similar to our current scenario. Similarly, studies conducted at Mozambique [39], Bangladesh [47] also shows susceptibility to ciprofloxacin, whereas some other studies show resistance fluctuating between 2 and 39% [41].

One of the important finding in our study was re-emergence of sensitivity to furazolidone. During our study period, furazolidone resistance remained 80–100% (except in 2012), and abruptly in 2016, a significant decline in resistance to 6% was noted. Klontz et al., in his study, have stated that they stopped consistently testing for resistance to furazolidone due to high resistance levels [47]. Most of the previous national and international studies have reported 100% isolates resistant to furazolidone [23, 48]. Some other studies have shown increasing resistance from 21% in 2008 to 95% in 2010 [45]. Recently, only 1 Vibrio was resistant to ceftriaxone, which may be an indication that, in near future, ceftriaxone resistance may also emerge. So far, no study has reported ceftriaxone resistance in Vibrio.

In our context, the origin of MDR Vibrio strain is not documented, however, studies made before 2006, have reported MDR (defined it as simultaneous resistance to 2 different classes of antibiotics) cholera cases [25]. With the current definition of MDR (isolates resistant to one or more of 3 or more different classes, our result shows that 94% isolates were MDR in 2006 reaching to 100% by 2016 which is in concordance to results obtained by Shrestha et al. [49]. Since, cholera was well prevalent in Nepal before this period, MDR strains may have emerged presumably due to heavy and widespread use of antibiotics for therapy.

Since the emergence of antibiotic resistance may significantly influence patient care, continuous monitoring of epidemic strains is crucial. Molecular studies emphasizing on the Although few isolates were further characterized for ctxB gene, MLVA typing, the genes and mechanisms responsible for antibiotic resistance still remains an area for further exploration.