Vibrio cholerae
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Vibrio cholerae
A gram negative comma-shaped bacterium with a polar flagellum that causing cholera in humans. There are two major biotypes of V. cholerae, classical and El Tor, and numerous serogroups. It was first isolated as the cause of cholera by Italian anatomist Filippo Pacini in 1854.
| Kingdom | Bacteria |
|---|---|
| Phylum | Proteobacteria |
| Class | Gamma proteobacteria |
| Order | Vibrionales |
| Family | Vibrionaceae |
| Genus | Vibrio |
| Species | V. cholerae |
| Binomial | Vibrio cholerae |
Contents |
[edit] Surface Characteristics
The O-antigen part of Vibrio cholerae's cell wall consists of (1-->2)-α-linked 4-amino-4,6-dideoxy-D-mannose (perosamine) whose amino group is acylated with 3-deoxy-L-glycero-tetronic acid. The terminal sugar is characterized by a 2-O-methyl group.
[edit] Transmission
Its transmission is primarily by the acquisition of the pathogen through contaminated drinking water or infected food. The source of the contamination is typically other cholera patients when their untreated diarrhea discharge is allowed to get into waterways or into groundwater or drinking water supplies. Any infected water and any foods washed in the water, as well as shellfish living in the affected waterway, can cause an infection. Cholera is rarely spread directly from person to person.
[edit] Pathogenic Activity
Vibrio cholerae, which primarily affects the small intestine and causes cholera. Cholera may also cause vomiting. These symptoms start suddenly, usually one to five days after infection, and are the result of a toxin produced by the vibrio cholerae bacterium that compels profuse amounts of fluid from the blood supply into the small and large intestines. An untreated cholera patient may produce several gallons of diarrhoeal fluid a day. If fluid is not replaced, the patient may die within several hours.
[edit] Virulence
Cholera is an acute intestinal illness. It causes abdominal pain, watery diarrhea, and vomiting. The diarrhoea and vomiting, in turn, can cause very bad dehydration of the body, leading to death if untreated.
