[Genetic determination and the spectrum of the hemolytic activity of Vibrio cholerae: their significance in the complex of biovar-specific traits].

A collection of 363 V. cholerae strains isolated from different sources were studied by the spectrum of their hemolytic activity in combination with biovar-associated properties. The strains were analyzed for the presence of the cholera toxin (CT) gene (vct) and the hemolysin gene (hly) with the use of the CT probe and a previously cloned 6.56 kb fragment of V. eltor DNA coding the synthesis of hemolysin. The study revealed that all V. cholerae strains had the hly gene irrespective of the spectrum of their hemolytic activity, biovar, 01 agglutinability and the presence of the vct gene in their genome, while other species of the genus Vibrio and related groups contained no hly gene sequence. The results of the comparative study of the hemolytic activity of V. cholerae and V. eltor are discussed.