General characteristics: Classification: Test Classical EL Tor Hemolysis -ve +ve VP Test -ve +ve Polymyxin sensitivity Sensitive Resistant Group IV phage susceptibility Susceptible Non-susceptible Chicken Erythrocyte agglutination -ve +ve Mode of transmission:  Infection is acquired by feco-oral route and by ingestion of improperly cooked shellfish. The incubation period ranges from few hours to 2-3 days. […]

Diagnosis of Vibrio cholerae Culture methods: Fig: Vibrio cholerae on TCBS Biochemical identification: Test V. cholerae KIA (Kligler’s Iron Agar)  K/A TSI (Triple Sugar Iron) A/A String + Oxidase + Gas from glucose – Sucrose + Lysine + Arginine – Ornithine + VP (Voges-Proskauer ) V Growth in 0% NaCl + Growth in 1% NaCl

Introduction to Caliciviridae Family: Caliciviridae is a family of viruses having positive-sense, single stranded RNA which is non-segmented. The family Caliciviridae consists of several genera, Lagovirus, Nebovirus, Norovirus, Sapovirus and Vesivirus. Members of Caliciviridae are significant causes of viral gastroenteritis in both humans and a variety of animals. The first human calicivirus is called Norovirus

Introduction of Rotavirus: Rotaviruses are responsible for significant gastrointestinal disease, primarily in children 5 years of age and the young of other mammalian species. By the age of five, almost all children worldwide suffer from rotavirus gastroenteritis; 1 in 5 visit a clinic, 1 in 65 are admitted to the hospital, and 1 in 293

Introduction of Human African Trypanosomiasis (HAT): Human African trypanosomiasis (HAT) is also known as African sleeping sickness. It is an infectious disease caused by an extracellular protozoan parasite belonging to the genus Trypanosoma, species brucei. Two subspecies of Trypanosoma brucei are pathogenic for humans are T. b. gambiense and T. b. rhodesiense. It is a

Introduction to Smallpox: The variola virus, which belongs to the orthopoxvirus family, is the cause of smallpox, an acute contagious illness.  It was among the deadliest illnesses that people had ever encountered.   The World Health Assembly approved a plan to eradicate smallpox worldwide in 1959.  After a worldwide vaccination campaign, it was deemed extinct in

Introduction to Staphylococcus aureus: Biochemical Properties of Staphylococcus aureus: Virulence Factors of S. aureus: Surface Proteins and Adhesins S. aureus produces several surface proteins such as fibrin-binding proteins that facilitate attachment to tissues and blood clots. Some strains that cause osteomyelitis and septic arthritis also possess collagen-binding adhesins. Additionally, teichoic acids—composed of ribitol-5-phosphate polymers—play a

Overview of Ebola Virus Disease: The Ebola virus causes an acute, serious illness which is often fatal if untreated. The latest outbreak that occurred in West Africa, (first cases notified in March 2014) is the largest and most complex Ebola outbreak since the Ebola virus was first discovered in 1976. The virus enters the human

Introduction to Poliovirus: According to Baltimore’s viral categorization system, picornaviruses are categorized as group IV viruses since their genomes are single-stranded and positive sense RNA. Picornaviruses are small, non-enveloped, icosahedral viruses, which contain a single-stranded, non-segmented RNA genome. The viral particle is around 27–30 nm in diameter. The Picornaviridae family includes medically important genera like