Vibrio cholerae facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Vibrio cholerae |
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Gamma Proteobacteria
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Vibrionales
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| Vibrio cholerae Pacini 1854
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Vibrio cholerae is a bacterium causing the disease cholera. It is part of the genus Vibrio, in the family Vibrionaceae.
The bacterium's natural habitat is brackish or saltwater where they attach themselves easily to the chitin-containing shells of crabs, shrimps, and other shellfish. Some strains of V. cholerae cause the disease cholera, which can be derived from the consumption of undercooked or raw marine life species.
It is usually spread by unsafe food and water so is highly contagious.
Preventive Measures
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When visiting areas with epidemic cholera, the following precautions should be observed: drink and use bottled water; frequently wash hands with soap and safe water; use chemical toilets or bury feces if no restroom is available; do not defecate in any body of water and cook food thoroughly. Supplying proper, safe water is important. A precaution to take is to properly sanitize. Hand hygiene is an essential in areas where soap and water is not available. When there is no sanitation available for hand washing, scrub hands with ash or sand and rinse with clean water. There is a V. cholerae vaccine available to prevent disease spread.
Images for kids
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Cholera toxin interrupting regulation of adenyl cyclase inside the cell causing efflux of water and sodium into the intestinal lumen.
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Diagram of the bacterium, V. cholerae
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Yellow colored (sucrose-fermenting) colonies of Vibrio cholerae on TCBS agar.
See also
In Spanish: Vibrio cholerae para niños
