Which agar is recommended for the isolation of Vibrio cholerae?

The recommended agar for the isolation of Vibrio cholerae is Thiosulfate-Citrate-Bile Salts-Sucrose (TCBS) Agar. TCBS Agar is specifically designed to isolate and cultivate vibrios, particularly V. cholerae, due to its selective composition that provides an alkaline environment and contains bile salts to inhibit the growth of non-vibrios.

The agar contains sucrose, which V. cholerae can ferment, resulting in yellow colonies on the medium, while non-fermenters typically produce green colonies. This color differentiation aids in the identification and isolation of V. cholerae. The high salt concentration also ensures that competing bacterial flora are inhibited, allowing for an enriched culture of the target organism.

The other media mentioned are not suitable for isolating Vibrio cholerae as they are targeted towards other types of organisms. Cefsulodin-irgasan-novobiocin (CIN) agar is primarily used for the isolation of Yersinia species. Lowenstein-Jensen agar serves as an enrichment medium for mycobacteria, particularly Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Barbour-Stoenner-Kelly (BSK) medium is tailored for the culture of the spirochete