VIBRIO FLUVIALIS ATTACHES TO BUT DOES NOT ENTER HELA-CELL MONOLAYERS

Considering the possibility that invasiveness could be a neglected fac tor of virulence in Vibrio fluvialis-linked enteritis, since a dysente ric form of the disease was seen in Bangladesh, we studied 12 Brazilia n strains of the organism, six clinical and six environmental, to dete rmine whether they might be able to enter into HeLa cell monolayers or would carry plasmids incidentally involved in invasiveness. Four huma n and two environmental isolates attached to but did not enter into th e cells. Though five strains harbored plasmids, no relationship was fo und between the carriage of these genetic elements and adhesiveness.