Match the following diseases with the causative pathogen(s).


___ Peptic ulcers
___ Gastroenteritis (various forms)
___ Blood poisoning
___ Cholera


A. Vibrio cholerae
B. Vibrio parahaemolyticus
C. Vibrio vulnificus
D. Campylobacter jejuni
E. Helicobacter pylori

Verified step by step guidance

1. Identify the causative pathogen for peptic ulcers by recalling that Helicobacter pylori is the bacterium known to colonize the stomach lining and cause ulcers.
2. For gastroenteritis, recognize that it can be caused by various pathogens; among the options, Campylobacter jejuni and Vibrio parahaemolyticus are common causes of bacterial gastroenteritis, so determine which is more commonly associated with this condition.
3. Understand that blood poisoning, or septicemia, can be caused by Vibrio vulnificus, which is known for causing severe wound infections and septicemia, especially from seafood exposure.
4. Match cholera with its well-known causative agent, Vibrio cholerae, which produces a toxin leading to severe watery diarrhea.
5. Finally, assign each disease to the correct pathogen based on these associations: Peptic ulcers to Helicobacter pylori, Gastroenteritis to either Campylobacter jejuni or Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Blood poisoning to Vibrio vulnificus, and Cholera to Vibrio cholerae.

Key Concepts

Pathogenic Bacteria and Disease Association

Understanding which bacteria cause specific diseases is fundamental in microbiology. Each pathogen has unique characteristics and infection mechanisms that lead to particular clinical conditions, such as Helicobacter pylori causing peptic ulcers or Vibrio cholerae causing cholera.

Characteristics of Vibrio and Helicobacter Species

Vibrio species are gram-negative, curved rods often associated with waterborne diseases; for example, V. cholerae causes cholera, while V. parahaemolyticus and V. vulnificus cause different forms of gastroenteritis and blood infections. Helicobacter pylori is a microaerophilic bacterium linked to stomach ulcers.

Clinical Manifestations of Bacterial Infections

Recognizing the symptoms and clinical outcomes of infections helps link pathogens to diseases. Peptic ulcers involve stomach lining damage, gastroenteritis causes intestinal inflammation, blood poisoning (septicemia) involves systemic infection, and cholera leads to severe diarrhea.