Cholera is caused by

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Cholera is caused by

Cholera is caused by a bacterium Vibrio cholerae that produces a potent enterotoxin. This toxin ADP-ribosylates the Gs protein in intestinal cells, keeping adenylate cyclase activated and raising cAMP. The rise in cAMP drives massive secretion of water and chloride into the gut lumen, leading to the characteristic profuse, watery diarrhea and rapid dehydration. Transmission is typically via contaminated water, contributing to outbreaks in areas with poor sanitation. The other organisms listed cause different illnesses. Escherichia coli can cause various diarrheal syndromes but not the classic cholera toxin–driven secretory diarrhea; Salmonella typhi causes typhoid fever; Campylobacter jejuni causes gastroenteritis. The hallmark of cholera is the toxin-mediated secretory diarrhea produced by Vibrio cholerae.

Cholera is caused by a bacterium Vibrio cholerae that produces a potent enterotoxin. This toxin ADP-ribosylates the Gs protein in intestinal cells, keeping adenylate cyclase activated and raising cAMP. The rise in cAMP drives massive secretion of water and chloride into the gut lumen, leading to the characteristic profuse, watery diarrhea and rapid dehydration. Transmission is typically via contaminated water, contributing to outbreaks in areas with poor sanitation.

The other organisms listed cause different illnesses. Escherichia coli can cause various diarrheal syndromes but not the classic cholera toxin–driven secretory diarrhea; Salmonella typhi causes typhoid fever; Campylobacter jejuni causes gastroenteritis. The hallmark of cholera is the toxin-mediated secretory diarrhea produced by Vibrio cholerae.

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