Explore the recorded discovery and history of Vibrio cholerae, with source links and stated limits.
V. cholerae has diverse strains. Toxigenic O1 and O139 strains cause epidemic cholera after contaminated food or water is consumed. Infection may be silent or mild, but severe watery diarrhea can rapidly cause dangerous dehydration. Other strains can also cause human illness. This model shows a representative curved, noncapsulated phenotype; it does not represent every serogroup.
The microbiology reference credits Pacini’s description in Florence in 1854. Florence is an observation location, not the species’ origin.
The reference dates Koch’s isolation in pure culture to 1883, following earlier observations.
These references do not establish the first human infection. Naming, isolation and recognition milestones do not date biological origin or patient zero.
Source check: 2026-09-19. Educational content; independent scientific review remains pending.