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Agent of disease
Vibrio cholerae is a comma shaped gram-negative flagellated bacterium which was first isolated, cultured and characterized by Robert Koch in Germany in 1883 (Figure 1). Bacteria invades the small intestine and produce enterotoxin which disrupts ion transport by intestinal epithelial cells. This interference results in the disease known as Cholera which remains one of the biggest killers in the world, especially in countries with poor sanitation and lack of clean water. From 150 serogroups, two groups O1 and O139 have been associated with epidemics and pandemics of cholera, both sharing identical biochemical and cultural characteristics.
Screening Tests
A number of Screening tests are conducted for suspected V.cholerae, the main one being the Oxidase test, although further tests may be carried out. The Oxidase test is conducted with fresh growth from an HIA slant and a positive reaction will result immediately in dark purple bacteria (Figure 4). String test is performed by suspending 18 to 24 hours bacteria growth from HIA in an aqueous solution of 0.5% sodium deoxycholate, a positive test resulting in DNA being lysed resulting in a viscous solution (Figure 5). Kligler iron agar (KIA) and triple sugar iron agar (TSI) can also detect V.cholerae, the former resulting in red slant, the latter yellow acid (Figure 6).
Treatment
Loss of fluid and minerals caused by severe diarrhoea requires prompt oral rehydration with salts and intravenous administration of fluids in severe cases.
References
1.http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dbmd/diseaseinfo/cholera/ch6.pdf 2.Faruque, S.M., Albert, M.J. and Mekalanos,J.J.(1998) Epidemiology, Genetics, and Ecology of ToxigenicVibrio cholerae. Microbiol. Mol. Biol. Rev. 62(4):1301-1314 Figure 3 Growth of V.cholerae on TCBS Figure 4 Positive test oxidase of V. cholerae