Begueja, Danilo Jr.

F Microbiology
BS Biology 3-A August 2017

Cholera - Vibrio cholerae Infection

Cholera is an intestinal infection caused by the bacteria Vibrio cholerae, a member of the
family Vibrionaceae, is a facultatively anaerobic, Gram-negative, non-spore-forming curved rod,
about 1.42.6mm long, capable of respiratory and fermentative metabolism. It causes severe
watery diarrhea, which can lead to dehydration and even death if untreate. Cholera can be
endemic, epidemic, or pandemic. It remains a global threat to public health and an indicator of
inequity and lack of social development. Researchers have estimated that every year, there are
roughly 1.3 to 4.0 million cases, and 21 000 to 143 000 deaths worldwide due to cholera.

Symptoms
Cholera is an extremely virulent disease that can cause severe acute watery diarrhoea. It
can begin as soon as a few hours or as long as five days after infection. Often, symptoms are mild.
But sometimes they are very serious. Cholera affects both children and adults and can kill within
hours if untreated. About one in 20 people infected have severe watery diarrhea accompanied
by vomiting, which can quickly lead to dehydration. Although many infected people may have
minimal or no symptoms, they can still contribute to spread of the infection.
Signs and symptoms of dehydration are rapid heart rate, loss of skin elasticity, dry mucous
membranes, including the inside of the mouth, throat, nose, and eyelids, low blood pressure, thirst
and muscle cramps.

Causes
Vibrio cholerae, the bacterium that causes cholera, is usually found in food or water
contaminated by feces from a person with the infection. Common sources include: Municipal
water supplies, ice made from municipal water, foods and drinks sold by street vendors, vegetables
grown with water containing human wastes and raw or undercooked fish and seafood caught in
waters polluted with sewage.
When a person consumes the contaminated food or water, the bacteria release a toxin in
the intestines that produces severe diarrhea. It is not likely you will catch cholera just from casual
contact with an infected person.

Epidemiology
Cholera is endemic or epidemic in areas with poor sanitation; it occurs sporadically or as
limited outbreaks in developed countries. In coastal regions it may persist in shellfish and plankton.
Long-term convalescent carriers are rare. Enteritis caused by the halophile V parahaemolyticus is
associated with raw or improperly cooked seafood.

Prevention and Control

Control by sanitation is effective but not feasible in endemic areas. A combination of
surveillance, water, sanitation and hygiene, social mobilization, treatment, and oral cholera
vaccines are used, but a good vaccine has not yet been developed. A parenteral vaccine of whole
killed bacteria has been used widely, but is relatively ineffective and is not generally
recommended. An experimental oral vaccine of killed whole cells and toxin B-subunit protein is
less than ideal. Living attenuated genetically engineered mutants are promising, but such strains
can cause limited diarrhea as a side effect. Antibiotic prophylaxis is feasible for small groups over
short periods.