Abstract: ObjectiveTo analyze the pathogenic characteristics of Vibrio cholerae isolated from clinical cases and environment so as to provide experimental data for cholera control and prevention. MethodsVibrio cholerae strains were isolated from cholera cases (patients and close contacts) and environmental samples (river water and seafood). The similarities and differences in different sources of Vibrio cholerae in serotype distribution, antimicrobial susceptibility, toxic gene carrying, and molecular typing were analyzed using serological testing, antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST), multiplex-PCR, and PFGE. ResultsA total of 39 strains of Vibrio cholerae were isolated in Foshan City from 2005 to 2014, including 6 strains from cholera cases and 33 from environmental samples. The predominant serotype of Vibrio cholerae from two sources was serogroup O1, serotype Inaba. Most strains from cholera cases were toxigenic, the ctxA toxic gene carrying rate was 66.67%, and the eight toxic genes carrying rate was 50.00%. Isolates from the environment were mainly non-toxigenic, the ctxA toxic gene carrying rate was 21.21%, and carrying rate of eight toxic genes was 6.06%. AST revealed that the strains from different sources had high resistance rate to nalidixic acid (>50.00%). The resistant rate of isolates from cholera cases to sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim (83.33%) was higher than that of isolates from environment (18.18%). PFGE cluster analysis showed that 39 strains of Vibrio cholerae were clustered into 35 patterns and the similarity was 72.5%-100.0%. ConclusionThe serotype, toxic gene, and genetic characteristics of Vibrio cholerae were diverse in Foshan City. Close attention should be paid to the variation of serotype and drug resistance of Vibrio cholerae.