Enteric Bacterial Infections 3: The Vibrios Flashcards
What are the three vibrios?
Vibrio cholerae, parahaemolyticus, vulnificus
Cellular characteristics of V. cholerae?
- Curved
- Motile
- Gram - rod
Two reservoirs of V. cholerae?
Humans and ocean
What cell wall antigen indicates pathogenicity in V. cholerae?
O cell wall antigen
What are the two V. cholerae groups that cause epidemic disease?
O1 and O139 groups
V. cholerae transmission?
Fecal-oral
What is a major barrier to V. cholerae infection?
Stomach acid
What makes a person susceptible to V. cholerae infection?
Gastrectomy, antacids, or coincident H. pylori infection
What allows the surviving V. cholerae to reach the small intestine brush border?
Secretion of mucinase and toxin-coregulated pilus
What are O1 and O139 markers for?
Infection with the CTX bacteriophage
Why is a high infectious dose of V. cholerae needed for infection?
Much of the organism is killed by gastric acid
Describe the choleratoxin
- A-B subunit structure
- B binds
- A causes percistent activation of adenylate cyclase resulting in loss of water and ions from attached cells
What is the Pavlovian Syx of V. cholerae infection?
Massive rice water diarrhea
What is the cause of morbidity and mortality from V. cholerae infection?
Dehydration and electrolyte imbalance
What is the typical scenario in which V. cholerae infection occurs?
Following travel