What is the causative agent of cholera?
The causative agent of cholera is Vibrio Cholerae. At present approximately 200 serogroups of V. cholerae are recognized and those are divided into two groups (1) those that agglutinate in antisera to the O1 group antigen (V. cholerae O1) and those that do not (non-O1 V. cholerae). There are two biotypes of V. cholerae, V. cholerae O1, classical and El Tor and each biotype are again subdivided into two serotypes, which are termed Inaba and Ogawa. Humans become accidentally infected as the natural habitat of V. cholerae is coastal salt water and brackish estuaries. But once infected, humans act as vehicle and spread the organism and disease. There is no known animal reservoir of V. cholerae.
