Cholera
Bio212: Microbiology
Courtney Ziegler
Topics
Organism that causes Cholera
Pathway of disease process
Symptoms of Cholera
Treatment of Cholera
Climate change and the impacts on Cholera in the future
Whats being done/could be done to improve disease management in the future
Microorganism causing cholera
V. cholerae under microscope
The microbe that causes Cholera is Vibrio cholerae. It is a comma-shaped bacterium that is gram-negative. V cholerae are propelled by a single polar flagellum and are highly motile(Rodriguez et al., 2024).
Key points:
Cholera cause is a bacteria
It is comma-shaped
Propelled by a single flagellum
Pathway of cholera
Organism enters the body via contaminated water, shellfish, or fecal contaminated source
Once in small intestine it colonizes and cholera toxin is produced
Adenosine monophosphate forms inhibiting microvilli from absorbing chloride and sodium
Travels to stomach, large inoculum size needed to survive in stomach acid
Crypt cells excrete chloride and water resulting in diarrhea and vomiting
Signs and symptoms
The symptoms of this disease are often nonexistent or very mild. Diarrhea, vomiting, and leg cramps are common symptoms. One in ten individuals develop severe symptoms which can lead to severe dehydration or shock (Cholera,2025).
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treatment
Treatment includes rehydration therapies such as oral electrolyte solution, or IV therapy, or antibiotics. Prevention includes improving water, sanitation and hygiene practices, access to safe water, and vaccination (World Health Organization: WHO & World Health Organization: WHO, 2024).
Climate change and the future
Climate change has the potential to influence the transmission of cholera through rising temperatures and an increase in natural disasters. Elevated temperatures impact water concentration and salinity, creating conditions that enhance cholera’s survival. Warmer water temperatures further support the bacterium’s persistence. Additionally, natural disasters can severely damage local water sanitation facilities, exacerbating the risk of limited access to clean water (De Magny & Colwell, 2009). Taken together, these factors suggest that the cholera crisis is likely to intensify and become more widespread as climate change progresses.
References
Cholera. (2025, May 29). Cholera.
De Magny, G. C., & Colwell, R. R. (2009). Cholera and climate: a demonstrated relationship.
Rodriguez, J. a. O., Hashmi, M. F., & Kahwaji, C. I. (2024, May 1). Vibrio cholerae Infection. StatPearls – NCBI Bookshelf.
World Health Organization: WHO & World Health Organization: WHO. (2024, December 5). Cholera.
