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Characteristics
Morphology
Gram negative, motile, non-spore forming, curved rod that is oxidase positive.
Disease

Causes cholera, an acute diarrheal infection.
Zoonosis
None.
Health Hazards
Host Range
Humans, water birds, shellfish, fish, and herbivores.
Modes of Transmission
Consumption of water that is contaminated with infectious feces.
Signs and Symptoms 
Watery diarrhea, vomiting, and abdominal cramps.
Infectious Dose 102 to 106 ingested vibrios.
Incubation Period 
A few hours to 5 days after infection.
Medical Precautions/Treatment
Prophylaxis Proper hygiene, sanitary measures, water treatment and careful food preparation in endemic areas.
Vaccines Available, but efficacy has not been confirmed.
Treatment
Fluid replacement, electrolyte replacement and base i.v. fluid replacement. Ciproflaxin, doxycycline or co-trimoxazole.
Surveillance Monitor for symptoms.
MSU Requirements Report any exposures
Laboratory Hazards
Laboratory Acquired Infections (LAIs)
12 cases of infection with 4 deaths.
 Sources
Cultures, frozen stocks, other samples described in IBC protocol.
Supplemental References
BMBL:
 https://www.cdc.gov/labs/BMBL.html
Canada PSDS:
CDC:
NIH Guidelines:
Risk Group & Containment Requirements
Risk Group 2

Agents that are associated with human disease which is rarely serious and for which preventive or therapeutic interventions are often available.
BSL2
For all procedures involving suspected or known infectious specimen or cultures.
ABSL2
For all procedures involving infected animals
Spill Procedures
Small
Notify others working in the lab. Remove PPE and don new PPE. Cover area of the spill with absorbent material and add fresh 1:10 bleach:water. Allow 20 munutes (or as directed) of contact time. After 20 minutes, cleanup and dispose of materials.
Large
  • Immediately notify all personnel in the lab and clear all personnel from the area. Remove any contaminated PPE/clothing and leave the lab. 
  • Secure the area by locking doors, posting signage and guarding the area to keep people out of the space. 
For assistance, contact MSU's Biosafety Officer (406-994-6733) or Safety and Risk Management (406-994-2711).
Exposure Procedures
Mucous membrane
Flush eyes, mouth, or nose for 5 minutes at eyewash station.
Other Exposures
Wash area with soap and water for 5 minutes.
Reporting
Immediately report incident to supervisor, complete a First Report of Injury form, and submit to Safety and Risk Management.
Medical Follow-up
During business hours: Bridger Occupational Health 3406 Laramie Drive. Weekdays 8am -6pm.  Weekends 9am-5pm
After business hours: Bozeman Deaconess Hospital Emergency Room 915 Highland Blvd Bozeman, MT
Viability
Disinfection
2-5% phenol, 1% sodium hypochlorite, 4% formaldehyde, 2% glutaraldehyde, 70% ethanol, 70% propanol, 2% peracetic acid, 3-6% hydrogen peroxide, and 0.16% iodine
Inactivation
Inactivated by moist heat (60 minutes at 121oC) and dry heat (1 hour at 160-170oC).
Survival Outside Host
Cholera can survive in well water for 7.5 ± 1.9 days and the El Tor biotype can survive 19.3 ± 5.1 days. The bacterium can survive in a wide variety of foods and drinks for 1-14 days at room temperature and 1-35 days in an ice box. It has also been found on fomites at room temperature for 1-7 days.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Minimum PPE Requirements
Lab coat, disposable gloves, safety glasses, closed toed shoes, long pants
Additional Precautions
 Additioanl PPE may be required depending on lab specific SOPs and IBC Protocol.