Vibrio cholerae - bacteria that cause severe intestinal infections in humans. Characteristic for cholera is a lesion of the small intestine, with the development of a clinic of acute intoxication, watery diarrhea, profuse vomiting and very rapid loss of fluid by the body. The causative agents of cholera can live in the environment for a long time, but for their development and reproduction, a person (vibration carrier) is certainly required. Such people may not have the slightest symptoms of the disease, continuously releasing more and more cholera pathogens into the environment.
Vibrio cholerae is transmitted from humans by the fecal-oral route. That is, feces infected with bacteria get into the environment (into the soil, water), from where they are carried by insects, usually flies, to food products and everyday household items.
A feature of cholera is that usually it spreads only in the form of an epidemic. The main endemic foci are considered Africa, Latin America, Southeast Asia. Cholera is listed as a quarantine infection.
To date, more than one hundred and forty groups of Vibrio cholerae are known. The causative agents of cholera are representatives of the serogroup O1 - Vibrio cholerae O1. According to its characteristics, the cholera vibrio is a short curved stick, with a flagellum. These are gram-negative aerobic bacteria growing on alkaline nutrient media at an ambient temperature of 10-40 degrees Celsius. One of the causative agents of cholera - the cholera vibrio El-Tor is able to hemolize lamb erythrocytes.
The onset of cholera
Absolutely all the ways in which cholera is transmitted belong to the fecal-oral mechanism of transmission of infection. A sick person or vibration carrier releases cholera pathogens into the environment. From there, the vibrio most often falls into the water, through which other people also become infected with cholera. In addition, it is likely that foods infected during cooking, distribution, washing or storage are eaten.
A special role in the spread of cholera is played by poor sanitary and hygienic conditions, a high crowded population, and a large flow of migrants from endemic areas. After the disease, in 4-5% of cases, people become chronic carriers of the vibrio, which is located in the gallbladder. This carriage is especially characteristic of the elderly. In other cases, the transferred disease develops a stable immunity to the serotype with which the person is infected.
Incubation period
The duration of incubation of cholera vibrio varies from a couple of hours to several days (up to five), but, basically, is about 24-48 hours. The severity of the disease is individual for each person. Symptoms of the disease can be either erased or pronounced (in such cases, death occurs on the first or second day due to a sharp dehydration of the body).
Symptoms
Cholera is distinguished by a number of characteristic symptoms, among which: acute onset of the disease, profuse watery diarrhea for several days, the stool has a mushy or liquid consistency of light gray color, odorless. Vomiting: the first time recently eaten food, later it becomes liquid, resembling rice broth. The temperature does not rise, in severe cases, there is a decrease to 35-35.5 degrees Celsius. The patient has all the signs of dehydration. The volume of urine produced decreases sharply, followed by a complete absence of urination.
Treatment
Cholera treatment is carried out by maintaining the volume of circulating blood and restoring the electrolyte composition of tissues. For these purposes, invasive therapy with intravenous administration of physiological saline and subsequent adjustment of water-electrolyte metabolism is used.