[Association between Vibrio cholerae and zooplankton of estuaries of São Marcos Bay/São Luis - MA, Brazil].

This study was carried from October 1997 to October 1998 with the purpose of investigating the link between the species Vibrio cholerae and zooplankton in the estuaries of rivers Anil and Bacanga in São Luis, Maranhão. Research of viable but non culturable forms of Vibrio cholerae O1, and analyze the correlation between pH values, salinity and water temperature with the presence of bacteria in zooplankton samples. The traditional method of cultivation and fluorescent antibody technique were applied to detect the bacteria. A total of 52 samples of zooplankton were collected. There was a predominance of Copepoda. The culture enabled 55 isolates of Vibrio cholerae non-O1. The serogroups O1 and O139 were identified in 37 (71.1%) and 17 (32.7%) samples respectively by the fluorescence. Viable but non culturable forms of Vibrio cholerae were detected in 70.8% of the samples studied. A significant correlation was established between salinity and the water's pH value and Vibrio cholerae.