title: Clinical and ecological characteristics of Vibrio vulnificus in the northeastern United States.
abstract: Multiple seawater sites in the northeastern United States, particularly Long Island Sound, and shellfish from Long Island Sound were sampled from April to November for 3 successive yr, 1983-1985. Hospitals in coastal and metropolitan areas of Connecticut were surveyed for the same 3-yr period, Vibrio vulnificus can be found in these waters during the summer months. The appearance of these virulent bacteria in both seawater and shellfish are a function of the water temperature; no V. vulnificus could be isolated until the temperature was approximately 17 degrees C. Although the risk of infection is small, as shown by isolation of this organism from patients, certain high-risk groups exist. Consumption of raw shell fish during the summer months should be discouraged in people with liver disease or patients on immunosuppressive therapy.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003237:Connecticut; D006801:Humans; D008974:Mollusca / Q000382:microbiology*; D009518:New York; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012237:Rhode Island; D012623:Seawater; D013696:Temperature; D014733:Vibrio / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D014735:Vibrio Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014871:Water Microbiology