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Diagnosis of cholera
Last reviewed: 03.07.2025
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Cholera is diagnosed based on the clinical picture, epidemiological situation and laboratory test results. The bacteriological method is of decisive importance: microscopy of biomaterial preparations (feces, vomit, etc.) and sowing of the material on an accumulation medium (peptone water, alkaline agar). Further studies are carried out according to the instructions. Express methods are used for accelerated laboratory diagnostics, which have only an approximate value.
The Polev-Ermolyeva method consists of sowing the material into three test tubes:
- in the 1st - 1% peptone water;
- in the 2nd - 1% peptone water and agglutinating cholera O-serum;
- in the 3rd - 1% peptone water with 0.5% soluble starch.
After 3-4 hours of incubation, agglutination occurs in the 2nd test tube in the presence of cholera vibrios, and starch decomposition occurs in the 3rd test tube; when Lugol's solution is added after 6 hours, there is no blue coloration.
Serological methods of research aimed at detecting specific antibodies in the blood are additional and make it possible to identify those who have recovered, as well as to judge the intensity of immunity in vaccinated people. In practical work, the most commonly used are the agglutination reaction, the reaction for detecting vibriocidal antibodies, and early IgM antibodies by the ELISA method.
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