title: Rapid proliferation of Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Vibrio vulnificus, and Vibrio cholerae during freshwater flash floods in French Mediterranean coastal lagoons.
abstract: Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Vibrio vulnificus, and Vibrio cholerae of the non-O1/non-O139 serotype are present in coastal lagoons of southern France. In these Mediterranean regions, the rivers have long low-flow periods followed by short-duration or flash floods during and after heavy intense rainstorms, particularly at the end of the summer and in autumn. These floods bring large volumes of freshwater into the lagoons, reducing their salinity. Water temperatures recorded during sampling (15 to 24°C) were favorable for the presence and multiplication of vibrios. In autumn 2011, before heavy rainfalls and flash floods, salinities ranged from 31.4 to 36.1‰ and concentrations of V. parahaemolyticus, V. vulnificus, and V. cholerae varied from 0 to 1.5 × 10(3) most probable number (MPN)/liter, 0.7 to 2.1 × 10(3) MPN/liter, and 0 to 93 MPN/liter, respectively. Following heavy rainstorms that generated severe flash flooding and heavy discharge of freshwater, salinity decreased, reaching 2.2 to 16.4‰ within 15 days, depending on the site, with a concomitant increase in Vibrio concentration to ca. 10(4) MPN/liter. The highest concentrations were reached with salinities between 10 and 20‰ for V. parahaemolyticus, 10 and 15‰ for V. vulnificus, and 5 and 12‰ for V. cholerae. Thus, an abrupt decrease in salinity caused by heavy rainfall and major flooding favored growth of human-pathogenic Vibrio spp. and their proliferation in the Languedocian lagoons. Based on these results, it is recommended that temperature and salinity monitoring be done to predict the presence of these Vibrio spp. in shellfish-harvesting areas of the lagoons.
authors: HydroSciences Montpellier, UMR 5569, CNRS, IRD, Université Montpellier, Montpellier, France.
authors: Kevin
authors: K
authors: Esteves
authors: Ifremer, RBE, SG2M, Laboratoire Santé, Environnement et Microbiologie-LNR Microbiologie, Plouzané, France.
authors: Dominique
authors: D
authors: Hervio-Heath
authors: HydroSciences Montpellier, UMR 5569, CNRS, IRD, Université Montpellier, Montpellier, France.
authors: Thomas
authors: T
authors: Mosser
authors: HydroSciences Montpellier, UMR 5569, CNRS, IRD, Université Montpellier, Montpellier, France.
authors: Claire
authors: C
authors: Rodier
authors: HydroSciences Montpellier, UMR 5569, CNRS, IRD, Université Montpellier, Montpellier, France.
authors: Marie-George
authors: MG
authors: Tournoud
authors: HydroSciences Montpellier, UMR 5569, CNRS, IRD, Université Montpellier, Montpellier, France.
authors: Estelle
authors: E
authors: Jumas-Bilak
authors: Center for Bioinformatics and Computational Biology and Institute for Advanced Computer Studies, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, USA.
authors: Rita R
authors: RR
authors: Colwell
authors: HydroSciences Montpellier, UMR 5569, CNRS, IRD, Université Montpellier, Montpellier, France pmonfort@univ-montp2.fr.
authors: Patrick
authors: P
authors: Monfort
mesh_terms: D058491:Bacterial Load; D004783:Environmental Microbiology; D055868:Floods; D005602:France; D005618:Fresh Water / Q000382:microbiology*; D019083:Mediterranean Region; D011891:Rain; D054712:Salinity; D013696:Temperature; D013997:Time Factors; D014734:Vibrio cholerae / Q000254:growth & development*; D014736:Vibrio parahaemolyticus / Q000254:growth & development*; D041261:Vibrio vulnificus / Q000254:growth & development*