CHOLERA BEYOND THE GUT: A RARE CASE OF PULMONARY INFECTION BY VIBRIO CHOLERAE

Abstract

Pulmonary infections caused by Vibrio cholerae are exceedingly rare and remain underreported in clinical literature. While Vibrio cholerae is classically associated with acute watery diarrhea and cholera outbreaks, extraintestinal manifestations—including respiratory infections—are uncommon and poorly understood. We report a rare case of a 46 year old female from a rural background presenting with acute febrile illness and respiratory symptoms, ultimately diagnosed with right lower lobe pneumonia caused by non-O1 Vibrio cholerae. The patient presented with intermittent fever, chills, myalgia, anorexia, and bilateral chest and upper back discomfort of four days duration. Radiological imaging revealed right lower lobe consolidation. Laboratory investigations demonstrated leukocytosis with neutrophilia. Extensive infectious workup including Widal test, viral markers, and scrub typhus serology was negative. Sputum culture yielded Vibrio cholerae, confirmed by characteristic colony morphology, darting motility, and biochemical features, and further identified as a non-O1 strain by serotyping.This case highlights an unusual pulmonary manifestation of Vibrio cholerae infection in an immunocompetent individual with occupational exposure risk. The report underscores the importance of considering atypical pathogens in community-acquired pneumonia, especially in endemic regions. Early microbiological diagnosis is critical for targeted therapy and improved outcomes.