Produced by the Vibrio cholerae bacterium that creates a toxin that affects water absorption in the small intestine, cholera is an infectious disease. Most of the bacteria are eliminated by stomach acid when ingested, while the surviving bacteria settle in the small intestine and begin producing the toxin that produces cholera symptoms. The toxin created by the bacterium, Vibrio Cholerae, is an exotoxin. Vibrio Cholerae is a member of the Vibrionaceae family composed of Gram-negative curved rods. They are found in coastal waters and estuaries and tend to grow best in the company of salt. However, they can develop in lower salinity conditions when it is warmer and contains sufficient organic material. (Harris, LaRocque, Qadri, Ryan, Calderwood/ 2012)OriginCholera was originally native to the Indian subcontinent, primarily around the Ganges River. Trade routes spread the disease to Russia and then to Western Europe. During the period of Irish immigration it spread to North America. Cholera is no longer considered a serious health threat in North America and Europe due to the filtering and chlorination of water supplies. However, it still affects developing countries and particularly the children who live there. (Balakrishnan/ 2008)HistoryFilippo PaciniCholera was believed to be caused by an exorbitant production of bile by the patient before the study of bacteria gained importance and before microorganisms were linked to infectious diseases. By the 1800s this explanation was no longer adequate, and scientists began searching for new answers. In the 19th century, around the time a cholera pandemic was ravaging Asia, the disease arrived in Italy. Pacini began performing autopsies on the bodies of uncompromising victims...... middle of document ......013, from http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/travel/diseases/cholera.htmNormandin, B. (2012, June 4). Cholera.Healthlines RSS News. Retrieved December 10, 2013, from http://www.healthline.com/health/choleraHarris, J., LaRocque, R., Ryan, E., Qadri, F., & Calderwood, S. (2012, June 30) . Cholera. Pubmed. Retrieved December 13, 2013, from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3761070/ Balakrishnan, A. (2008, December 4). Questions and answers on cholera. theguardian.com. Retrieved December 11, 2013, from http://www.theguardian.com/world/2008/dec/04/cholera-zimbabweArnold, P. (2009, September 27). History of Cholera - Who Discovered Cholera?.Bright Hub. Retrieved December 14, 2013, from http://www.brighthub.com/science/genetics/articles/50412.aspxHanda, S. (2013, November 11). Cholera. Cholera. Retrieved December 17, 2013, from http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/962643-overview