Vibrio El Tor

Vibrio El Tor (Vibrio cholerae var. el tor, ber) is a gram-negative curved rod that is the causative agent of cholera. This variant of Vibrio cholera was first isolated in the early 20th century in Egypt from water sources in the El Tor area.

Vibrio El Tor differs from the classic vibrio cholera in a number of biological properties. It forms denser colonies, is less demanding on the environment, and is more stable in the external environment. El Tor vibrios produce more toxin and have more pronounced enteropathogenic properties.

Vibrio El Tor strains have caused every cholera pandemic since 1961. They spread from Asia to Africa, South America and parts of Europe. El Tor vibrios continue to circulate in Asia and Africa, causing local outbreaks of the disease.