Microbial procedure: Vibrio cholera

Abstract

Cholera is an acute specific infection caused by the organism, Vibrio cholera. Diagnosis may be confirmed by the presence of large numbers of the comma-shaped bacilli on direct microscopic examination of a fecal or vomitus smear, and by the isolation of the organism on culture. Fish and shellfish have been identified as vehicles of cholera. Large numbers of V. cholera must usually be ingested to cause cholera. Thus problems often occur when poor handling and inadequate refrigeration have allowed the organism to multiply. Presented in the paper is the methodology of determining the presence of Vibrio cholera in fish and fishery products.