Cholera is mainly caused by two pathogenic serotypes of V. cholerae: O1 and O139. V. cholerae is usually transmitted via the fecal-oral route to the human host. Following ingestion, the V. cholerae must overcome the host defense mechanisms such as gastric acidity, intestinal inhibitory factors, and changes in temperature and osmolarity. After gaining access to small intestine, V. cholerae uses flagella to propogate through the mucus layer covering the small intestine and colonizes the small intestinal cells, using toxin-coregulated pilus (TCP) to form a biofilm. Diarrheal illness in the human host is mainly caused by production of enterotoxin.
Cholera pathophysiology
Cholera risk factors
Cholera differential diagnosis
Cryptosporidiosis pathophysiology
Cholera classification
Cryptosporidiosis risk factors
Amoebiasis pathophysiology
Enterobiasis risk factors