Skip to main content
Applied and Environmental Microbiology logoLink to Applied and Environmental Microbiology
. 1992 Oct;58(10):3257–3262. doi: 10.1128/aem.58.10.3257-3262.1992

Seasonal incidence of Vibrio vulnificus in the Great Bay estuary of New Hampshire and Maine.

K R O'Neill 1, S H Jones 1, D J Grimes 1
PMCID: PMC183088  PMID: 1444362

Abstract

Vibrio vulnificus, a normal bacterial inhabitant of estuaries, is of concern because it can be a potent human pathogen, causing septicemia, wound infections, and gastrointestinal disease in susceptible hosts. From May 1989 through December 1990, oysters and/or water were obtained from six areas in the Great Bay estuary of New Hampshire and Maine. Water was also sampled from three freshwater sites that lead into these areas. V. vulnificus was first detected in the estuary in early July and remained present through September. V. vulnificus was isolated routinely during this period from oysters and water of the Squamscott, Piscataqua, and Oyster Rivers but was only isolated twice from the oysters or water of the Great Bay itself. This study determined that there was a strong correlation (by analysis of variance) between temperature, salinity, and the presence of V. vulnificus in water and oysters. However, other unidentified factors appear to influence its presence in certain areas of the estuary.

Full text

PDF

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Bartley C. H., Slanetz L. W. Occurrence of Vibrio parahaemolyticus in estuarine waters and oysters of New Hampshire. Appl Microbiol. 1971 May;21(5):965–966. doi: 10.1128/am.21.5.965-966.1971. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Blake P. A., Merson M. H., Weaver R. E., Hollis D. G., Heublein P. C. Disease caused by a marine Vibrio. Clinical characteristics and epidemiology. N Engl J Med. 1979 Jan 4;300(1):1–5. doi: 10.1056/NEJM197901043000101. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Brauns L. A., Hudson M. C., Oliver J. D. Use of the polymerase chain reaction in detection of culturable and nonculturable Vibrio vulnificus cells. Appl Environ Microbiol. 1991 Sep;57(9):2651–2655. doi: 10.1128/aem.57.9.2651-2655.1991. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Hollis D. G., Weaver R. E., Baker C. N., Thornsberry C. Halophilic Vibrio species isolated from blood cultures. J Clin Microbiol. 1976 Apr;3(4):425–431. doi: 10.1128/jcm.3.4.425-431.1976. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Johnston J. M., Becker S. F., McFarland L. M. Gastroenteritis in patients with stool isolates of Vibrio vulnificus. Am J Med. 1986 Feb;80(2):336–338. doi: 10.1016/0002-9343(86)90038-0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Kaysner C. A., Abeyta C., Jr, Wekell M. M., DePaola A., Jr, Stott R. F., Leitch J. M. Virulent strains of Vibrio vulnificus isolated from estuaries of the United States West Coast. Appl Environ Microbiol. 1987 Jun;53(6):1349–1351. doi: 10.1128/aem.53.6.1349-1351.1987. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Kelly M. T. Effect of temperature and salinity on Vibrio (Beneckea) vulnificus occurrence in a Gulf Coast environment. Appl Environ Microbiol. 1982 Oct;44(4):820–824. doi: 10.1128/aem.44.4.820-824.1982. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. MacDonell M. T., Singleton F. L., Hood M. A. Diluent composition for use of API 20E in characterizing marine and estuarine bacteria. Appl Environ Microbiol. 1982 Aug;44(2):423–427. doi: 10.1128/aem.44.2.423-427.1982. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Massad G., Oliver J. D. New selective and differential medium for Vibrio cholerae and Vibrio vulnificus. Appl Environ Microbiol. 1987 Sep;53(9):2262–2264. doi: 10.1128/aem.53.9.2262-2264.1987. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Metcalf T. G., Moulton E., Eckerson D. Improved method and test strategy for recovery of enteric viruses from shellfish. Appl Environ Microbiol. 1980 Jan;39(1):141–152. doi: 10.1128/aem.39.1.141-152.1980. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. O'Neill K. R., Jones S. H., Grimes D. J. Incidence of Vibrio vulnificus in northern New England water and shellfish. FEMS Microbiol Lett. 1990 Oct;60(1-2):163–167. doi: 10.1016/0378-1097(90)90365-w. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Oliver J. D., Guthrie K., Preyer J., Wright A., Simpson L. M., Siebeling R., Morris J. G., Jr Use of colistin-polymyxin B-cellobiose agar for isolation of Vibrio vulnificus from the environment. Appl Environ Microbiol. 1992 Feb;58(2):737–739. doi: 10.1128/aem.58.2.737-739.1992. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Oliver J. D., Warner R. A., Cleland D. R. Distribution and ecology of Vibrio vulnificus and other lactose-fermenting marine vibrios in coastal waters of the southeastern United States. Appl Environ Microbiol. 1982 Dec;44(6):1404–1414. doi: 10.1128/aem.44.6.1404-1414.1982. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Oliver J. D., Warner R. A., Cleland D. R. Distribution of Vibrio vulnificus and other lactose-fermenting vibrios in the marine environment. Appl Environ Microbiol. 1983 Mar;45(3):985–998. doi: 10.1128/aem.45.3.985-998.1983. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Tamplin M., Rodrick G. E., Blake N. J., Cuba T. Isolation and characterization of Vibrio vulnificus from two Florida estuaries. Appl Environ Microbiol. 1982 Dec;44(6):1466–1470. doi: 10.1128/aem.44.6.1466-1470.1982. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Tilton R. C., Ryan R. W. Clinical and ecological characteristics of Vibrio vulnificus in the northeastern United States. Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis. 1987 Feb;6(2):109–117. doi: 10.1016/0732-8893(87)90094-0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Venkateswaran K., Kiiyukia C., Takaki M., Nakano H., Matsuda H., Kawakami H., Hashimoto H. Characterization of toxigenic vibrios isolated from the freshwater environment of Hiroshima, Japan. Appl Environ Microbiol. 1989 Oct;55(10):2613–2618. doi: 10.1128/aem.55.10.2613-2618.1989. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Applied and Environmental Microbiology are provided here courtesy of American Society for Microbiology (ASM)

RESOURCES