[Modern epidemiologic and pathogenetic findings illustrated by the example of cholera]

In 1883 Robert Koch isolated and characterized Vibrio comma as the etiological agent of cholera thereby creating a breakthrough in cholera research. Pathogenesis and pathophysiology of diarrheal diseases caused by V. cholerae and enterotoxigenic E. coli are cleared up by the production of enterotoxins and colonizing factors of microorganisms. Plasmids code for antibiotic resistance, distinct enterotoxins, colonization and other virulence factors. Sero-, bio-, phage-, colicino- and plasmid typing are important to epidemiological surveillance.