Video - Vibrio cholerae (Cholera)

Vibrio cholerae is a bacterium that causes cholera, a severe and contagious diarrheal disease. Cholera is transmitted through contaminated water or food and is most common in areas with poor sanitation and limited access to clean drinking water.

Some strains produce cholera enterotoxin, which acts on the intestinal epithelial cells in the small intestine, causing over-activation of the enzyme adenylate cyclase. This leads to an increase in the intracellular levels of cyclic AMP (cAMP) in the intestinal cells, which in turn leads to the secretion of large amounts of water and electrolytes into the intestinal lumen, resulting in the characteristic watery diarrhea of cholera.

Patients most often present with voluminous, profuse, watery diarrhea, vomiting, and dehydration, all of which lead to fatal dehydration and electrolyte imbalances. Treatment involves rehydration therapy to replace all the fluids and electrolytes that are lost through diarrhea. In severe cases, antibiotics such as tetracyclines, ciprofloxacin, or trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole may be necessary.