title: Evaluation of virulence factors in environmental isolates of Vibrio species.
abstract: Strains of Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Vibrio fluvialis and Vibrio mimicus isolated from seafood and seawater were examined for characteristics related to infectivity, such as enzymatic activity and animal assays. All strains hydrolysed DNA, starch, gelatin and chitin. Variable results were obtained with the haemolysin, chondroitin, collagen, elastin and lecithin tests. Production of thermostable direct haemolysin by V. parahaemolyticus was detected in 7.1% strains derived from seafood and 2% from seawater. In the animal assays, strains of V. fluvialis showed positive results at skin PF (75%), mouse lethality (100%), but no fluid accumulation in the suckling mice model was noted. Concerning V. mimicus, results showed skin PF (100%), mouse lethality (100%) and fluid accumulation in suckling mice (66.6%).
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Bacteriologia, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil.
authors.forename: D P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Rodrigues
authors.forename: R V
authors.initials: RV
authors.lastname: Ribeiro
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Alves
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hofer
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004783:Environmental Microbiology; D051379:Mice; D014733:Vibrio / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D014736:Vibrio parahaemolyticus / Q000472:pathogenicity; D014774:Virulence