Cholera is an acute bacterial diarrheal disease (enteritis) with a short incubation period and usually a severe course. Cholera has been known since ancient times and is still common in some regions of the world.

Worldwide, especially in the Indian subcontinent, Central and South America

The natural reservoir for V. cholerae is surface waters, including marine waters.

Mainly oral, through ingestion of drinking water contaminated with faeces or vomit, or via food.

Watery diarrhoea, which may also be accompanied by nausea and vomiting, fluid losses of up to 20 litres/day, kidney failure, circulatory collapse, death. Asymptomatic courses or also mild courses of the disease (with excretion of pathogens) are frequent.

With timely fluid and electrolyte replacement, the prognosis is good (lethality 1%).

In Austria, the oral inactivated vaccine Dukoral is licensed. The vaccination is largely dispensable in tourism and is primarily recommended in this country for specific situations such as disaster missions (cholera outbreaks after natural disasters) or for work in refugee camps.

In recent years, there have been repeated imports of toxin-forming V. cholerae O1 strains after stays in endemic areas. In the past three years, no cholera toxin-producing vibrios could be identified in the national reference laboratory for cholera.

The pathogen, Vibrio cholerae, is a gram-negative, motile, comma-shaped bacterium that can produce an enterotoxin (cholera toxin). Based on surface antigens (O antigen), it is classified into different groups. Groups O1 and O139 (synonym: Bengal) can cause cholera. Serogroup O1 contains two biotypes: Classical and El-Tor. The remaining serogroups - over 200 - are referred to as non-O1/non-O139 V. cholerae and can occasionally cause enteritis and various extraintestinal manifestations such as ear or wound infections.

Epidemiology

The pathogen has a worldwide distribution, particularly in the Indian subcontinent, Central and South America. The natural reservoir for V. cholerae is surface waters, including marine waters. Most outbreaks are recorded in tropical and subtropical countries where there is an inadequate central supply of drinking water and where sanitary conditions are poor.

Transmission of V. cholerae is mainly oral, through ingestion of drinking water contaminated with faeces or vomit, or through food. Since Vibrio cholerae is very sensitive to gastric acid, the infectious dose must be relatively high. Infection via contaminated water requires¹⁰³ -106 bacteria, via food only¹⁰² -104 bacteria. In people who produce less gastric acid (e.g. by taking proton pump inhibitors), the necessary infection dose is correspondingly lower.

In most cases, the pathogens are excreted for a few days after the symptoms have subsided. In asymptomatic courses, the pathogens can often be detected for 14 days. Rarely, the pathogens are excreted for months after the disease has passed. However, direct transmission from person to person is rare.

In addition to humans, ecological niches also serve as reservoirs for V. cholerae and other vibrios. If temperature, electrolyte and nutrient levels are appropriate, vibrios can survive in water for years. However, contaminated water can not only play a role in transmission through oral ingestion, but can also lead to infection through direct contact with, for example, wounds.

Symptomatology

Cholera (caused by toxin-producing V. cholerae O1 or O139) begins with watery diarrhoea, which may also be accompanied by nausea and vomiting. Severe forms of the disease lead to watery, painless diarrhoea ("rice water stools") with fluid losses of up to 20 l/day. Patients suffer from severe cramps in the calves, there is an increasing loss of water and electrolytes. Asymptomatic courses or even mild courses of the disease, but accompanied by excretion of the pathogen, are very common (the manifestation rate is less than 2%).

Without fluid and electrolyte substitution, death may occur due to renal failure and circulatory collapse. With timely substitution therapy, the prognosis is good (lethality 1%). Infections with V. cholerae non-O1/non-O139 or other Vibrio sp. can cause gastrointestinal infections as well as ear and soft tissue infections and in severe cases lead to sepsis and subsequent death.

After infection, only incomplete immunity can be expected.

Therapy

The most important measure for the treatment of cholera is the timely and sufficient balancing of the electrolyte and fluid balance. If possible, this can be done orally, e.g. with 20g glucose + 1.5g KCl + 2.5g NaCl + 3.5g Na-bicarbonate. In severe cases infusions have to be administered. The administration of antibiotics plays a minor role. In severe cases, they reduce the duration and intensity of diarrhoea and reduce the duration of pathogen excretion. Suitable drugs are erythromycin, tetracycline, doxycycline or ciprofloxacin. In extraintestinal infections with vibrios, antibiotic therapy should be considered in any case.

Prophylaxis/vaccination

For prophylaxis, it is recommended above all to maintain high hygienic standards. After each bowel movement/toilet use and before handling food (including drinking water), extensive hand hygiene (washing hands with soap is sufficient!) must be carried out. In tropical countries, only bottled or boiled drinking water should be used; eating salads, raw vegetables and seafood should be avoided. In addition, disinfectant cleaning should be carried out on all objects and surfaces that have probably/visibly come into contact with the patient's excreta.

In Austria, the oral inactivated vaccine Dukoral is licensed. Vaccination is largely dispensable in tourism and is primarily recommended in this country for specific situations such as disaster missions (cholera outbreaks after natural disasters) or for work in refugee camps. The vaccination schedule and any booster vaccinations can be found in the current"Vaccination Schedule Austria" of the Federal Ministry of Social Affairs, Health, Care and Consumer Protection.