Notes on Paracholera in Sulawesi (Celebes)

Abstract

Summary An epidemic of paracholera in Sulawesi, which occurred in 1947 and 1948, is described, in connection with three previous outbreaks in which this disease was diagnosed on the same island. No in vitro differences were found between the classic El Tor vibrio isolated first in Egypt, which is nonpathogenic, or of low human pathogenicity, and the Sulawesi strains which cause serious disease. It is suggested that the Sulawesi vibrios be designated as Vibrio de Moor after the scientist who first described them. While paracholera resembles Asiatic cholera closely, it has some epidemiologic features which are different from those observed in classic cholera. Of these, sporadic occurrence with low morbidity but high mortality, and a generally static character, are the most outstanding.