Vibrio cholerae is a gram-negative, curved bacillus that causes the disease cholera. It was discovered independently by Filippo Pacini in 1854 in Italy and Robert Koch in 1883 in India. Cholera is typically spread through contaminated water and causes severe diarrhea and dehydration. Modern water treatment has eliminated cholera in most developed countries, but it remains problematic in parts of Asia, Africa, and South America where water treatment is lacking. Diagnosis involves examining stool samples under a microscope for the presence of V. cholerae or culturing samples on selective media such as TCBS agar. Treatment focuses on oral rehydration therapy to replace lost fluids. Prevention involves drinking bottled water,

1. VIBRIO CHOLERA
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2. EPIDEMIOLOGY-
THE GERM RESPONSIBLE FOR CHOLERA WAS
DISCOVERED TWICE- FIRST BY THE ITALIAN PHYSICIAN
FILIPPO PACINI DURING AN OUTBREAK IN FLORENCE
ITALY, IN 1854, AND THEN INDEPENDENTLY BY ROBERT
KOCH IN INDIA IN 1883, THUS FAVORING THE GERM
THEORY OVER THE MIASMA THEORY OF DISEASE.
Vibrio cholera
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3. TAXONOMY-
CLASS : GAMMA PROTEOBACTERIA
ORDER: VIBRIONALES
FAMILY: VIBRIONACEAE
GENUS: VIBRIO
SPECIES: V.CHOLERAE
• Vibrio cholera- Cholera is a serious bacterial disease that
usually causes severe diarrhea and dehydration.
• The disease is typically spread through contaminated water.
• Modern sewage and water treatment have effectively eliminated
cholera in most countries.
• It’s still a problem in countries like Asia, America and Africa.
Mostly in India.
• Countries affected by war, poverty, and natural disasters have the
greatest risk for a cholera outbreak.
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4. MORPHOLOGY-
• Gram negative, actively motile, short, rigid curved bacilli .
• It Resembling letter “V” .
• about 34 genus are there .
• most common found in water .
• 1.5µ X 0.2 -0.4 µm in size .
• polar flagellum , strongly aerobic .
• Smear – fish in stream appearance ( koch).
CULTURAL CHARACTERISTICS-
• They are aerobics facultative anaerobes growing well in the
temperature of 37 degree C and in the pH of 7.4 - 9.6.
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5. ORDINARY MEDIA-
• NUTRIENT AGAR MEDIUM-After overnight incubation
round,moist, translucent, bluish colonies will be appear with 1-2mm
size.
• MACCONKEY AGAR MEDIUM - Colorless colonies will be form after
that it will change to pink color.
• BLOOD AGAR MEDIUM –A zone of green discoloration appears
around the colonies at first and later it become clear.
• GELATIN STAB CULTURE - After three days of incubation a white
line of growth appears in the medium
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6. TRANSPORT MEDIA -
• VENKATRAMAN - RAMAKRISHNAN MEDIUM - This is an ideal transport
medium. The organism will be viable in this medium for several weeks
without multiplication
ENRICHMENT MEDIA -
• ALKALINE PEPTONE WATER- Rapid growth occurs in about 6 hours with
formation of thick surface pellicle.
PLATING MEDIA -
• ALKALINE BILE SALT AGAR MEDIUM -It is a modified nutrient agar medium
and the colonies are similar that appears in the nutrient agar medium.
• MONSUR’S GELATIN TAUROCHOLATE TRYPTICASE TELLURITE AGAR
MEDIUM- After 24 hours of incubation small colonies will be formed with 1-2
mm in size and grayish color with black centers.
• The size will be increased to 3-4 mm after 48 hours of incubation.
THIOSULPHATE CITRATE BILE SUCROSE AGAR MEDIUM - In this
medium large colonies will be formed in yellow color.
• Later the yellow color will be changed to green color.
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8. BIOCHEMICAL TESTS –
Sugar fermentation test: fermentation of glucose, sucrose and Beta-
maltose will occur with the production of gas.
Nitrate reduction test: positive
Iodole test. : positive
Catalase test : positive
Oxidase test. : positive
Motility test. : positive
SLIDE AGGLUTINATION TEST - The specimen from a selective media
is placed on a microscopic slide and add a drop of normal saline over
that and then observe under a microscope after adding one drop of
antiserum over the specimen.
Pesencece of clumps indicates the positive test
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9. TRANSMISSION-
WORLD WIDE
• CONTAMINATED WATER .
• CONTAMINATED FOOD –RAW OR
UNDERCOOKED SEAFOOD –RICE,
CEREALS, GRUELS LEFT AT
AMBIENT TEMPERATURE
• PERSON TO PERSON
TRANSMISSION NOT COMMON .
• FECAL-ORAL TRANSMISSION
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12. PATHOGENESIS-
Source: Ingestion of contaminated water, food, fruits and
vegetables etc.,
INCUBATION PERIODS - 1-5 days.
SYMPTOMS-
• Watery diarrhoea.
• vomiting, thirst.
• Dehydration.
• muscle cramps.
Complications-
• muscular pain.
• renal failure.
• pulmonary edema.
• cardiac arrhythrnias.
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13. DIAGNOSIS-
Specimen: stool sample, water sample.
Microscopy:
a)Hanging drop : +ve
b)Gram stain :-ve
Culture: Mac conkey Agar :colourless to light pink .
TCBS : yellow colonies
Serology: serological tests are no diagnostic value
String Test: Used to identify V.cholerae colonies. Loopful of vibrio
growth -Drop of 0.5% Sodium Deoxycholate solution -Substance
become MUCOID
Cholera red reaction:
• Best identification test for V. Cholerae.
• Drops of Conc- Sulphuric acid + peptone culture allow for 24 hours
-RED colour.
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14. TREATMENT- Adequate replacement of fluids and electrolytes
• Oral tetracycline reduces the period of vibrio excreation.
Cholera vaccines and vaccination
• Two types of oral cholera vaccines are available:
(i) Dukoral an
(ii) Shanchol and mORCVAX.
PREVENTION-
• Drink and use bottled water.
• Frequent washing hands.
• Sanitary environment.
• Defecate in water.
• Cook food thoroughly.
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15. REFERENCE-
1.TEXT BOOK OF MICROBIOLOGY, 9 TH EDITION BY ANANTHANARYAN AND
PANIKERS.
2.TEXT BOOK OF MICROBIOLOGY, 3 RD. EDITION BY R ANANTHANARYAN AND C K
JAYARAM PANIKERS.AND BY PROF. C P BAVEJA.
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