Final answer:
Enterotoxic diarrhea is caused by bacteria producing toxins; EPEC contributes to diarrhea by attaching to intestinal cells, while Staphylococcal enterotoxins resist destruction by heat or acid. ETEC produces toxins that cause water loss, and Vibrio cholerae results in severe dehydration and electrolyte imbalance through increased cAMP.
Step-by-step explanation:
The causes of enterotoxic diarrhea include infection by certain strains of bacteria that produce toxins leading to symptoms such as diarrhea, vomiting, and dehydration. Specifically, Enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC) causes diarrhea by injecting the Tir protein into intestinal cells, leading to pedestal formation for bacteria to adhere to the cell surface. Other culprits include Staphylococcal enterotoxins, which can withstand acidic environments and heat, and produce symptoms by activating a strong immune response through T cell proliferation.
Enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC), commonly causing traveler's diarrhea, produces heat-labile (LT) and heat-stabile (ST) enterotoxins that cause the excretion of chloride ions from intestinal cells, causing water loss and diarrhea. Additionally, Vibrio cholerae releases cholera toxin leading to an increase in cAMP in intestinal cells, which activates chloride channels and causes severe dehydration and electrolyte imbalance.
Prevention and diagnosis are crucial, involving the correct handling of food, specific diagnostic tests (e.g., PCR for detecting toxin genes in stool samples), and supportive treatments such as rehydration and electrolyte replacement. In some cases, antibiotic treatment may be necessary, despite concerns regarding resistance.