Distribution of Vibrio vulnificus and Other Lactose-Fermenting Vibrios in the Marine Environment

• DOI: 10.1128/aem.45.3.985-998.1983
• Publication Date: 2020-01-01T03:23:57Z
• Authors: James D. Oliver; Robert A. Warner; David R. Cleland
• Keywords: Vibrio vulnificus; Ostreidae

During the summer of 1981, 3,887 sucrose-negative vibrios were isolated from seawater, sediment, plankton, and animal samples taken 80 sites Miami, Fla., to Portland, Maine. Of these, 4.2% able ferment lactose. The lactose-positive strains various correlated positively with pH turbidity water, in sediment oysters, total bacterial counts oysters. Negative correlations obtained for water salinity. Numerical taxonomy was performed on 95 lactose-fermenting environmental isolates 23 reference strains. Five clusters resulted, major cluster containing 33 all Vibrio vulnificus isolates, which produced an acid reaction lactose broth within hours initial inoculation, represented 20% studied. These nearly identical phenotypically clinical V. studied by Centers Disease Control, Atlanta, Ga., our laboratory, their identification confirmed DNA-DNA hybridization studies. sample types Miami Cape Cod, Mass., comparison parameters eight subsites yielding this species those revealed no significant differences. majority animals, clams providing most (84%) these. On injection into mice, 82% resulted death. Members remaining four contained differed such phenotypic traits as luminescence urease or H 2 S production. None other cultures, including nine species, clusters, these could not be identified. Most also lethal mice. Phenotypic differences, potential pathogenicity, geographic distribution five examined. It is concluded that a ubiquitous organism, both geographically variety sources, although it occurs relatively low numbers. public health significance organism unidentified discussed.