CHOLERA

Kate Ferriola-Bruckenstein

Cholera is an acute infection of the small intestine

Cholera is an acute infection of the small intestine

• Extreme dehydration

Cholera is an acute infection of the small intestine

• Extreme dehydration

• 100,000-120,000 deaths per year

The cause of cholera was identified byRobert Koch in 1883

• Vibrio cholerae

We have known about the diseasefor almost 200 years

• India-1817

Cholera is spread by ingestion of contaminated food or water

Cholera is spread by ingestion of contaminated food or water

Because of modern sanitation and treatment of drinking water it’s not an issue in the developed world

However, cholera remains an issue for much of the developing world

Cholera lives in the intestine, not inside its cells, and its toxin is the problem

• Bacterium secrete Cholera Toxin

• CT binds to and is endocytosed into host intestinal epithelial cells

• CT causes adenylate cyclase to continually produce the signaling molecule cAMP

• high cAMP levels repeatedly activate a pump in the plasma membrane

This causes…

Cells pump out chloride and sodium ions, water and electrolytes

This causes diarrhea, loss of electrolytes, and dehydration

75% of those infected do not develop any symptoms

Of the other 25%...

– 20% get life-threatening symptoms

Cholera is easily treated in many parts of the world

Cholera is easily treated in many parts of the world

– <1% death rate with proper treatment

• RehydrationIs the key!

Cholera antibiotics and vaccines are not commonly recommended

•resistance • low efficacy

The problem is getting care to underdeveloped nations with limited resources

Prevention is easy in the developed world

Prevention is more difficult in parts of the developing world

Sources• http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs107/en/index.html

http://www.ehow.com/about_5435942_life-cycle-vibrio-cholerae.html#ixzz16upUvgP9

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cftr.shtml • http://www.cbc.ca/canada/newfoundland-labrador/story/2010/12/01/nl-haiti-

clinic-1201.html• http://www.who.int/topics/cholera/treatment/en/index.html • http://healthguide.howstuffworks.com/cholera-dictionary.htm• http://www.medicalecology.org/water/cholera/cholera.htm• http://www.who.int/topics/cholera/control/en/index.html

Image Sources• http://affordablehousinginstitute.org/blogs/us/2010/08/sickness-makes-you-stupid.html • http://blogs.bet.com/news/newsyoushouldknow/tag/cholera/• http://hubpages.com/hub/Prevention-and-Treatment-for-Cholera• http://www.icm.tn.gov.in/idsp3.html • http://www.africaneeds.org/diseases.html• http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/aug/24/zimbabwe-new-cholera-outbreak• http://www.ebi.ac.uk/interpro/potm/2005_9/Page2.htm• http://stylish-moms.com/?cat=142• http://iuhuru.com/2010/11/cholera-kills-800-haiti/• http://www.pbs.org/newshour/updates/africa/jan-june09/zimbabwe_01-14.html• http://centre.icddrb.org/news/index.jsp?idDetails=127&typeOfNews=News%20and

%20Events• http://www.vabiotechvn.com/english/?act=sanphamin&code=detail&idcat=4&id=17• http://www.cambridgenetwork.co.uk/object/news/52115/img/cholera%20hospital.jpg• http://www.ferret.com.au/c/CST-Wastewater-Solutions/CST-Wastewater-Solutions-inlet-scree

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