Can be on anything to do with microbiology (you can chose the topic) Article - 1

Can be on anything to do with microbiology (you can chose the topic) - Article Example The greatest microbial risks are because of ingestion of water contaminated with animal or human feces. Other sources of contamination are waste water discharges. Children under 5 years of age are the most affected population with these infectious diseases. Common diseases which are transmissible by water are cholera, typhoid and bacillary dysentery. Cholera is caused by gram negative rods Vibrio cholerae which are facultative anerobes. The organisms are aquatic bacteria and their distribution depends on sodium and temperature of the water. The incubation period of the disease is 1-3 days and the disease is characterised by acute and intense diarrhoea leading to dehydration. Cholera is associated with high mortality if not treated timely. Infection due to Vibrio cholera is dependent on adhesion of the cells of the bacteria to the mucous membrane of the intestine and production of cholera toxin. Cholera is very famous for its pandemics. The genes responsible for toxin production are h arbored in the CTX? segment (7–9.7 kb) of the chromosome. The strains of the organism are common in the environment, especially is estuaries. Non-culturable but viable bacteria are responsible for episodic nature and the sudden appearance of violent cholera outbreaks, followed by a rapid slowing down.