Question

Cholera is caused by ________.

Answer 1

Hint: The word cholera refers to an infection of the small intestine which is caused by a gram-negative comma-shaped bacterium. These bacteria are commonly found in saltwater where they attach themselves to the shells of crabs, shrimps, and other shellfish containing chitin.

Complete step by step answer: An infection of the small intestine which is caused by Vibrio cholerae bacteria is called cholera. Vibrio cholerae bacteria is a gram-negative bacterium and is comma-shaped. They are commonly found in saltwater or brackish where they attach themselves to the shells of crabs, shrimps, and other shellfish containing chitin. Strains of V. cholerae cause cholera when the marine food is consumed in a raw state or undercooked. Diarrhea and vomiting are seen in hosts after the ingestion of V. cholerae within several hours to two-three days. These bacteria adapt the environment of the host to sustain inside the host body and resist the attack by bile acids and antimicrobial peptides. Cholera causes severe dehydration and an imbalance of electrolytes in the host body. Consumption of contaminated food and water is the most common source for cholera disease to occur.

So, cholera is caused by the Vibrio Cholerae bacterium.

Note: Watery diarrhea is the classical symptom of cholera but muscle cramps and vomiting can also occur. A stool test is done for the diagnosing of cholera. Proper sanitization and consumption of clean water is the preventive measure to avoid getting infected by cholera. Cholera severely affects children and causes many deaths worldwide. Cholera can be proved fatal if not treated.