Isolation and characterization of Arcobacter spp. from fresh seafood and the aquatic environment.
Arcobacter is an emerging pathogen associated with foods of animal origin. Members of the genus Arcobacter are increasingly being isolated from fish, shellfish and the aquatic environment. In the present study, we analyzed fish, shellfish and water samples for the presence of Arcobacter spp. by conventional isolation as well as by direct PCR on the enrichment broth. Of 100 samples comprising of 42 finfish, 34 shellfish and 24 water samples analyzed, Arcobacter spp. was isolated from 8 (19%) finfish, 5 (14.7%) shellfish and 5 (20.8%) water samples. Arcobacter DNA was detected in 24 (24%) samples by direct PCR on the enrichment broth. Based on m-PCR specific to different Arcobacter spp. and 16S rRNA sequence analyses, majority (19) of the isolates were identified as Arcobacter butzleri, while two isolates were Arcobacter mytili. All Arcobacter butzleri isolates harbored putative virulence genes cadF, ciaB, mviN, pldA, tlyA and cj1349. The two isolates of A. mytili harbored mviN and cj1349 genes only. The study highlights emerging problem of the contamination of aquatic environment and fresh seafood with potentially pathogenic Arcobacter spp.
Quality Control Laboratory, Department of Post-Harvest Technology, ICAR-Central Institute of Fisheries Education (CIFE), Mumbai, 400061, India.
Martina
M
Laishram
Quality Control Laboratory, Department of Post-Harvest Technology, ICAR-Central Institute of Fisheries Education (CIFE), Mumbai, 400061, India.
Srinu
S
Rathlavath
Quality Control Laboratory, Department of Post-Harvest Technology, ICAR-Central Institute of Fisheries Education (CIFE), Mumbai, 400061, India.
Manjusha
M
Lekshmi
Quality Control Laboratory, Department of Post-Harvest Technology, ICAR-Central Institute of Fisheries Education (CIFE), Mumbai, 400061, India.
Sanath
S
Kumar
Quality Control Laboratory, Department of Post-Harvest Technology, ICAR-Central Institute of Fisheries Education (CIFE), Mumbai, 400061, India. Electronic address: nayakbb@cife.edu.in.
Binaya Bhusan
BB
Nayak
D000818:Animals; D020640:Arcobacter / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005399:Fishes / Q000382:microbiology*; D005516:Food Microbiology; D058889:Molecular Typing; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics; D017747:Seafood / Q000382:microbiology*; D012623:Seawater / Q000382:microbiology*; D012758:Shellfish / Q000382:microbiology*; D014774:Virulence / Q000235:genetics; D037521:Virulence Factors / Q000235:genetics; D014871:Water Microbiology
D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; D037521:Virulence Factors
16S rRNA; Arcobacter butzleri; Arcobacter mytili; Seafood; m-PCR