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Indeed, a host of the plenty of reports about pathogenic Vibrios, have been from African researchers. And they assert that this severe diarrhea causing agent originated from Asia thousands of years ago and spread (first, via the sea route) affecting particularly the coastal towns and fishing villages, before moving to other parts of the world. Following the primary cholera outbreak of 1868, Vibrio cholera, appeared in the Atlantic coast of West Africa. The pathogen then invaded African countries chronologically beginning with Guinea, then Sierra Leone, Liberia, Cote d’ivoire, Mali, Togo, Dahomey, Upper Volt (Burki Na-faso) and finally Nigeria (Lagos) and Niger in December, 1970. Various serogroups (O139 and O1 with biotypes Classical and El Tor) and Serotypes of O1 (Ogawa, Inaba and Hikojima) and recently, the O395 strain have been reported; especially from outbreaks reported from hotspots that are close to riverine areas. This suggests that these emergent pathogenic species originate from around water environments probably from the non-pathogenic strains. This condition is likely harnessed by Lateral Gene Transfer (LGT), which is seen to occur usually between pandemic V. cholerae and environmental strains; a situation that may result in the creation of new pandemic strains. Therefore, in order to better understand and appreciate the evolution of the Vibrio cholerae strains that are involved in epidemics, and the relationship between the species causing particular epidemics in different regions of Africa, a study of the molecular picture of the environmental strains and the mechanisms by which the pathogenic Vibrio cholera strains appear and diffuse from these strains is necessary. This review seeks to trace the origin and spread route of Vibrio cholerae strains causing epidemics in different regions of the African continent (Nigeria in particular) with the aim of establishing relationships between the strains causing epidemics in these regions. This will help in the development of better intervention strategies to contain the disease.

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In the coastal areas of the world, most Vibrio species have been incriminated as notorious agents causing foodborne, wound and other infections. These pathogens are known to be associated with the consumption of raw or undercooked seafoods or the exposure of wounds to warm seawater. Aim: Therefore, this research work was designed with the aim of assessing the microbiological quality of the water bodies as well as the seafoods consumed in Cross River State (CRS). Study Design: The Study was designed using the completely randomized block design and the data was analyzed using of two-way analysis of variance, Generalized Linear Model Univariate analysis. Significant means were separated using the Least significant difference (LSD). Place and Duration of Study: This study was done in the Department of Microbiology, University of CRS, Calabar, CRS, Nigeria, between 2016-2019. Methodology: we evaluated a variety of seafoods viz; crayfish, blue crabs, Periwinkles, apple nails, red lobsters etc. collected from major Beaches, markets and other sale points and water sources (rivers streams sea and gutters) in Calabar, CRS of Nigeria, using standard bacteriological techniques, for the prevalence of Vibrio species. Results: The mean percentage mean viable cell counts obtained ranged from 1.79±3.45 (seawater)-9.15±4.79CFU/mL (gutter water) and 7.68±7.58 (Blue Crab)- 11.37±4.82 CFU/g (fish) in the Rainy season.  The counts for the Dry season Ranged from 1.79 ±3.42 (Seawater)-8.94± 4.51(gutter water), and 5.83 7.21 CFU/g (apple snail) -12.64 5.95 CFU/g (Fish). The total percentage mean counts obtained were 8.09±6.91 CFU/mL in the Rainy Season to 7.61±6.58 CFU/mL in the dry Season. From both seasons, the overall total mean count was 11.09±5.94 CFU/ml. From the nine locations evaluated in this study, it was observed that the Mean percentage counts for the Northern Senatorial District (NSD) ranged from 2.81± 3.49 (Ogoja)- 3.14 ±4.07CFU/mL (Obudu). For the Central (CSD) the range was from 3.34 ±4.20 (Boki)- 9.89 ±5.15 (Ikom), while for the Southern (SSD) it was from12.01± 6.52 (Akamkpa)- 14.47 ±5.44 (Calabar). The overall Total percentage mean counts from all the three Senatorial Districts was 14.03±4.86 CFU/mL. From the Northern Senatorial District, the total Percentage mean was 3.01±3.77 CFU/mL, 7.05±5.79 CFU/mL from the Central and 13.49± 5.72 CFU/mL from the Southern Senatorial District.  The Vibrio pathotypes isolated include Vibrio cholerae (V. cholerae) (both O1 and non-O1 serotypes) 1155 (31.61%), Vibrio parahaemolyticus (V. parahaemolyticus), 752 (20.58%), Vibrio fluvialis (V. fluvialis) 480 (13.14%), V. vulnificus 473 (12.94%) Vibrio mimicus (V. mimicus) 400 (10.95%) and Other Vibrios 394 (10.78%). Out of the 3654 Vibrio isolates, the greatest number 663±3.31 (18.14%) were from Seawater, while the least 133±.84 (3.64%) were from the Gutter Water. Also, the highest number 1245±2.61 (34.07%) came from Calabar, and the least 102±.65 (2.79%) from Obanlikwu. The NSD had the least number 327 (8.95%), followed by the CSD with 570 (15.59%) and then the SSD with 2757 (75.45%) as the highest number of isolates. Conclusion: The presence of these pathogenic bacterial species in common seafoods in this area is of great public health concern. It is therefore important that serious emphasis be laid on proper cooking of these seafoods as well as the establishment of regular hygiene surveillance strategies in the state.

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