DETECTION OF VIBRIO METSCHNIKOVII FROM ENVIRONMENTAL SAMPLES.

Kélvilin Anahí Gonzales Sábio (USP); Milena Dropa (USP); Miriam Lopes da Silva (USP); Glavur Rogério Matté (USP); Maria Helena Matté (USP)

Introduction - Vibrio metschnikovii is one of 11 potentially pathogenic species of the genus Vibrio. It primarily inhabits aquatic environments and may be isolated from the marine environment, estuaries, polluted water and fresh water and fish, shrimp, oyster, lobster, bivalves, among others. It differentiates from other species by negative results of oxidase and nitrate reduction. In most clinical cases the infection occurs by consumption of raw or undercooked seafood. This Vibrio specie was described to produce diarrhea and in severe cases septicemia that can lead to death. Contamination can also occur by contact with contaminated water, causing skin wounds. The aim of this study was to detect Vibrio metschnikovii in different environmental samples by using molecular methods. Material and Methods - Vibrio metschnikovii strains were isolated from raw sewage, mollusds, shrimp and fish samples. Strains were screened for oxidase and nitrate reduction, and acid production from sucrose. Molecular identification was carried out by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with species-specific primers. Results - Vibrio metschnikovii strains were recovered from all samples tested resulting in 64 isolates. All strains showed characteristic biochemical tests and positive results in PCR. Discussion and Conclusions - The methodology used in this study demonstrated to be useful to detect Vibrio metschnikovii from environmental samples that can be overlooked because of the negative oxidase test that separates this specie from other Vivrios. The presence of Vibrio metschnikovii in environmental samples can serve as an alert to the Public Health authorities since the presence of this microorganism may be underestimated and the pathogenic potential of Vibrio metschnikovii should not be ignored.