title: Pathogenic vibrios in environmental, seafood and clinical sources in Germany.
abstract: Bacteria of the family Vibrionaceae naturally occur in marine and estuarine environments. Only few species of Vibrionaceae are associated with human cases of gastroenteritis, ear and wound infections, caused by ingestion of seafood or contact with Vibrio containing water. Increasing consumption of seafood (fish, fishery products and shellfish) poses a possible source of Vibrio infections in Germany. Additionally, there is a growing concern that abundances of pathogenic vibrios may increase in German coastal waters as a result of e.g. climate change resulting in probably rising surface water temperatures. According to the One Health concept the VibrioNet consortium started in 2010 to investigate the occurrence and relevance of non-cholera vibrios of human concern in Germany. Vibrios from environmental, seafood and clinical sources were analyzed with the aim to find connections between different reservoirs or sources and to identify potential ways of transmission of these pathogens to assess the risk of infections associated with them. Potentially pathogenic strains mostly belong to the species Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Vibrio vulnificus and non-O1/non-O139 Vibrio cholerae. Investigations on imported seafood and mussels from primary production areas confirmed the frequent occurrence of these species. Moreover, studies of German coastal waters and sediments showed the presence and seasonality of these marine bacteria. So far the incidence of clinical cases of vibriosis in Germany is low. Between 1994 and 2013 thirteen cases of Vibrio spp. associated wound infections and/or septicaemia have been reported. However, the high prevalence of vibrios in aquatic environments and aquatic organisms is of concern and demands continued control of food and surveillance for clinical infections with pathogenic vibrios.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Lebensmittelhygiene, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Stephan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Huehn
authors.affiliation: Institut für Medizinische Mikrobiologie und Hygiene, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany.
authors.forename: Christin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Eichhorn
authors.affiliation: Institut für Lebensmittelhygiene, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Urmersbach
authors.affiliation: Robert Koch-Institut, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Janina
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Breidenbach
authors.affiliation: Bundesinstitut für Risikobewertung, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Silke
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bechlars
authors.affiliation: Bundesinstitut für Risikobewertung, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Nadja
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bier
authors.affiliation: Institut für Lebensmittelhygiene, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Alter
authors.affiliation: Institut für Fische und Fischereierzeugnisse, LAVES, Cuxhaven, Germany.
authors.forename: Edda
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bartelt
authors.affiliation: Robert Koch-Institut, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Frank
authors.affiliation: Q-Bioanalytic GmbH, Bremerhaven, Germany.
authors.forename: Boris
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Oberheitmann
authors.affiliation: Institut für Medizinische Mikrobiologie und Hygiene, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany.
authors.forename: Florian
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gunzer
authors.affiliation: Bundesanstalt für Gewässerkunde, Koblenz, Germany.
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Brennholt
authors.affiliation: Bundesanstalt für Gewässerkunde, Koblenz, Germany.
authors.forename: Simone
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Böer
authors.affiliation: Bundesinstitut für Risikobewertung, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Bernd
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Appel
authors.affiliation: Bundesinstitut für Risikobewertung, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Ralf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dieckmann
authors.affiliation: Bundesinstitut für Risikobewertung, Berlin, Germany. Electronic address: Eckhard.Strauch@bfr.bund.de.
authors.forename: Eckhard
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Strauch
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000382:microbiology*; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D017747:Seafood / Q000382:microbiology*; D014733:Vibrio / Q000145:classification* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D014735:Vibrio Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*
keywords: Baltic Sea; North Sea; Vibrio cholerae non-O1/non-O139; Vibrio parahaemolyticus; Vibrio population; Vibrio vulnificus