Cholera

Cholera is a potentially life-threatening gastrointestinal infection caused by Vibrio cholerae serogroups O1 and O139.  Three million cases of cholera occur each year worldwide, resulting in around 100,000 deaths.  Severe disease is marked by profuse watery diarrhea, which can lead to life-threatening dehydration, hypovolemic shock, and electrolyte disturbances.  Cholera is commonly seen in areas with inadequate sanitation, making it a significant public health issue in low-income and disaster-stricken regions.

V cholerae is a comma-shaped, oxidase-positive, highly motile, gram-negative rod that is transmitted via the fecal-oral route and through contaminated food (eg, seafood) and water.

After ingestion, V cholerae passes through the acidic stomach, colonizes (but does not invade) the small intestine epithelium, and releases