title: Isolation of pandemic Vibrio parahaemolyticus from UK water and shellfish produce.
abstract: Vibrio parahaemolyticus is a Gram-negative, halophilic bacterium found commonly in temperate and warm estuarine waters worldwide. V. parahaemolyticus is considered an emerging bacterial pathogen in Europe and has been responsible for several recent seafood-associated outbreaks. During ad hoc testing of raw shellfish produce in May 2012, pandemic group (O3:K6) V. parahaemolyticus was isolated from Pacific oysters (Crassostrea gigas), harvested in Southern England. Follow-on testing of water and shellfish, encompassing a small number geographically diverse sites, also retrieved pandemic group isolates. These strains are amongst the most northerly pandemic strains described to date and represent the first instance of pandemic V. parahaemolyticus isolated in the UK, highlighting the expanding geographical distribution of these foodborne pathogens in the environment.
authors: Centre for Environment, Fisheries, and Aquaculture Science, Weymouth Laboratory, Barrack Road, Weymouth, Dorset, DT4 8UB, UK.
authors: Andy
authors: A
authors: Powell
authors: Craig
authors: C
authors: Baker-Austin
authors: Sariqa
authors: S
authors: Wagley
authors: Amanda
authors: A
authors: Bayley
authors: Rachel
authors: R
authors: Hartnell
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005506:Food Contamination / Q000032:analysis; D005517:Foodborne Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D010125:Ostreidae / Q000382:microbiology*; D058873:Pandemics; D012623:Seawater / Q000382:microbiology*; D012758:Shellfish / Q000382:microbiology*; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology; D014736:Vibrio parahaemolyticus / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*