Environmental Predictors of Pathogenic Vibrios in South Florida Coastal Waters

Koske Yamazaki,Nwadiuto Esiobu

doi:10.2174/1874297101205010001

Abstract

In 2007, diseases caused by Vibrio vulnificus and other Vibrio species became nationally notifiable in the United States because of the potential severity of bloodstream infections. Direct contact of open wound with seawater and the ingestion of contaminated oysters are the principal modes of transmission. Presently, no clear environmental predictors of oyster contamination are known. This study is the first to report an apparent association between rainfall and Vibrio counts at five South Florida beaches. Using multiple regression and ANOVA, the relationship between Vibrio populations and various environmental factors were examined. Vibrio counts ranged from 135 CFU/100 mL at Hollywood Beach to 186,000 CFU/100 mL at North Miami Beach. Vibrio vulnificus and parahemolyticus were detected (less than 1% of all identified isolates) at two and four beaches respectively. Temperature and rainfall dates were the most significant correlates of the incidence of pathogenic Vibrio species.

Highlights

Prior to 2007, the United States lacked a national surveillance system for Vibrio vulnificus infections
Water quality standards established by the U.S Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) [8] for monitoring recreational waters do not always correlate with the incidence or infectious doses of pathogenic vibrios [9,10,11,12,13]
Knowledge of the prevalence of pathogenic Vibrio species and the environmental factors that affect their numbers in recreational beaches is important for risk

Summary

Introduction

Prior to 2007, the United States lacked a national surveillance system for Vibrio vulnificus infections. Only about 900 cases were reported between 1988 and 2006 in the Gulf coastal states [1], the potential severity and high mortality of bloodstream infections have launched these pathogens into the limelight. Vibrio species are ubiquitous to marine, estuarine, and freshwater environments [2]. According to Howard and Bennett [6], prevalence of marine Vibrio infections (foodborne and waterborne) in Florida ranks among the highest in the world, and swimmers in coastal waters of the Gulf of Mexico are affected. Knowledge of the prevalence of pathogenic Vibrio species and the environmental factors that affect their numbers in recreational beaches is important for risk

Methods

Results

Conclusion