Cholera

Cholera (also called Asiatic cholera) is an infectious disease, caused by bacteria that are typically ingested by drinking water that is contaminated by improper sanitation, or by eating improperly cooked fish, especially shellfish. Symptoms include diarrhoea, abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting, and dehydration. Death is generally due to the dehydration caused by the illness. When cholera is left untreated, it generally has a high death rate. Treatment is typically an aggressive rehydration treatment. With treatment, death rates plummet. Cholera was first described in a scientific manner by the physician Garcia de Orta in the 16th century.

References:

• Cholera facts from the United States FDA website: http://vm.cfsan.fda.gov/~MOW/chap7.html
• Gabriel, S.E. et al; Cystic fibrosis heterozygote resistance to cholera toxin in the cystic fibrosis mouse model; Science: 1994, v 266, 5182; pp 107-109
• Cuthbert, A.W. et al; The genetic advantage hypothesis in cystic fibrosis heterozygotes: a murine study; J Physiol: 1995, v 482; pp 449-454
• Hogenauer, C. et al; Active intestinal chloride secretion in human carriers of cystic fibrosis mutations: an evaluation of the hypothesis that heterozygotes have subnormal active intestinal chloride secretion; Am J Hum Genet: 2000, v 67, i 6, pp 1422-1427