Temporal Occurrence of Vibrio Species and Aeromonas hydrophila in Estuarine Sediments.
Marine sediments were assayed for their concentration of Vibrio spp. and Aeromonas hydrophila over 1 year. A temporal variation was observed in which A. hydrophila, and to a lesser degree V. fluvialis, were found in the winter months, V. parahaemolyticus and V. vulnificus predominated in the spring and summer, with non-O-1 V. cholerae and V. alginolyticus detected in the late summer and fall. These organisms were found in greatest numbers in the top 5 cm of sediment, but were detectable down to 15 cm. Epidemiological data revealed a predominance of non-O-1 V. cholerae infections at the time the organisms were observed to flourish in the sediments.
Williams
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LA
Department of Oceanography, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida 32301.
Larock
P A
PA