Identification of tdh-positive Vibrio parahaemolyticus from an outbreak associated with raw oyster consumption in Spain.
Between August and September 1999, a total of 64 cases of illness were identified in three episodes of acute gastroenteritis associated with the consumption of live oysters from a typical outdoor street market in Galicia (northwest Spain). Nine case patients were hospitalized and analysis of their stool samples revealed the presence of Vibrio parahaemolyticus. The strains isolated from two stool samples were studied for antibiotic susceptibility, biochemical characteristics and presence of virulence factors. Both isolates were Kanagawa phenomenon positive and produced thermostable direct hemolysin, which is related to pathogenicity in humans. These results show the presence of pathogenic V. parahaemolyticus in mollusks harvested in Europe and reveal the risk of illness associated with their consumption, suggesting the revision of V. parahaemolyticus risk assessment associated with consumption of raw live shellfish.
Lozano-León
Antonio
A
Unidad de Control de Moluscos, Instituto de Acuicultura, Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
Torres
Julio
J
Osorio
Carlos R
CR
Martínez-Urtaza
Jaime
J
D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D015373:Bacterial Typing Techniques; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D006460:Hemolysin Proteins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D010125:Ostreidae / Q000382:microbiology*; D017747:Seafood / Q000506:poisoning*; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D014735:Vibrio Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D014736:Vibrio parahaemolyticus / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D037521:Virulence Factors / Q000032:analysis
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D006460:Hemolysin Proteins; D037521:Virulence Factors; C088609:thermostable direct hemolysin-related hemolysin protein, Vibrio parahaemolyticus; C068489:thermostable direct hemolysin