Vibrio cholerae
MICROBIOLOGY
- Aerobic, Gram-negative, comma-shaped bacillus.
- Cary Blair media suggested transport.
- Selective thiosulfate–citrate–bile salts agar (TCBS, Fig 1) is best used for culture.
- Humans usually acquire infection through ingesting contaminated waters (brackish or marine) or food as a water-borne pathogen. Countries may have endemic infections (ongoing continuously, often with spikes during the rainy season) or epidemics.
- Only toxigenic strains cause epidemics and are reported as cholera.
- V. cholerae serogroup O1 has two biotypes, and each has distinct serotypes, although the clinical infection is not distinguishable:
- Classical is now rarely seen except in regions of Bangladesh and India.
- El Tor originated in Asia but has caused infection (seventh cholera pandemic) throughout Africa and South America for >47 yrs.
- A newer serogroup, O139, described in SE Asia in 1992 now endemic.
- Reagents for serotyping isolates are available through state health departments in the U.S.
- Send all isolates to CDC via state health department labs for subtyping and cholera-toxin testing.
- V. cholerae serogroup O1 has two biotypes, and each has distinct serotypes, although the clinical infection is not distinguishable:
- V. cholera doesn’t have a known animal reservoir; however, bacteria do attach to the chitin in shells of crustaceans and shellfish, which then can be a source of infection.
- Only toxigenic strains cause epidemics and are reported as cholera.
- Isolates are described with resistance to ampicillin, tetracycline, ampicillin, aminoglycosides, sulfonamides, fluoroquinolones and trimethoprim.
- Non-01 V. cholerae strains (also water-borne, may be non-toxigenic) can rarely cause non-diarrheal illnesses such as bacteremia and wound infections, especially in cirrhotics.
- Infections may be from fresh or brackish waters.
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Last updated: October 9, 2022
Citation
Auwaerter, Paul G. "Vibrio Cholerae." Johns Hopkins ABX Guide, The Johns Hopkins University, 2022. Pediatrics Central, peds.unboundmedicine.com/pedscentral/view/Johns_Hopkins_ABX_Guide/540585/all/Vibrio_cholerae.
Auwaerter PG. Vibrio cholerae. Johns Hopkins ABX Guide. The Johns Hopkins University; 2022. https://peds.unboundmedicine.com/pedscentral/view/Johns_Hopkins_ABX_Guide/540585/all/Vibrio_cholerae. Accessed December 10, 2024.
Auwaerter, P. G. (2022). Vibrio cholerae. In Johns Hopkins ABX Guide. The Johns Hopkins University. https://peds.unboundmedicine.com/pedscentral/view/Johns_Hopkins_ABX_Guide/540585/all/Vibrio_cholerae
Auwaerter PG. Vibrio Cholerae [Internet]. In: Johns Hopkins ABX Guide. The Johns Hopkins University; 2022. [cited 2024 December 10]. Available from: https://peds.unboundmedicine.com/pedscentral/view/Johns_Hopkins_ABX_Guide/540585/all/Vibrio_cholerae.
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