of Solapur, South Western India (latitude 17.6 N, longitude 75.15
E). Samples were collected and processed as described previously
(Pourshafie et al., 2007). Other bacterial strains used in the study
included V. cholerae O1 El Tor (ATCC 14033), V. cholerae O1 classical
(ATCC 11623) and V. cholerae O139 (ATCC 51394).