title: Seasonal occurrence of vibrios in water and shellfish obtained from the Great Kwa River estuary, Calabar, Nigeria.
abstract: The prevalence of Vibrio species in shellfish and their seasonal variability in the Great Kwa River estuary (GKWE) were examined. Results revealed a trimodal peak in Vibrio counts, coinciding with meteorological changes and the hot periods of the year. The estuary was constantly faecally polluted, coupled with high rates of infection of shellfish by V. parahaemolyticus 42 (13.6%), V. cholerae non-01 29 (9.4%) and V. alginolyticus 22 (7.1%), thus posing a health risk. The observed seasonal variability and prevalence of Vibrio species infection are of epidemiological significance, and provide a guide for effective control of associated cholera epidemics.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria. mattheweja2000@yahoo.com
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Eja
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Abriba
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Etok
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Ikpeme
authors.forename: G E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Arikpo
authors.forename: K H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Enyi-Idoh
authors.forename: U A
authors.initials: UA
authors.lastname: Ofor
mesh_terms: D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005618:Fresh Water / Q000382:microbiology*; D009549:Nigeria; D045483:Rivers; D012621:Seasons; D012758:Shellfish / Q000382:microbiology*; D014733:Vibrio / Q000302:isolation & purification*