OCCURRENCE AND ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE OF VIBRIO VULNIFICUS IN SEAFOOD AND ENVIRONMENTAL WATERS IN KOREA

Abstract

The objective of this study was to assess the occurrence and antibiotic resistance of Vibrio vulnificus in seafood and environmental waters obtained from several fish markets and estuarine sites in Korea from May to December of 2009. During the investigation, a total of 31 V. vulnificus strains were isolated from seafood (n = 17) and environmental water samples (n = 14) until the cold-water seasons (November and December). Among the 31 isolates, 24 strains proved resistant to at least one of the eight tested classes of antibiotics and 13 multidrug resistant strains were detected from it. Interestingly, the environmental isolates showed significantly higher resistance than the seafood isolate, as shown by the diameters of the inhibition zones in three antibiotic classes: cephems, aminoglycosides and folate pathway inhibitors. Therefore, the presence and antibiotic resistance of V. vulnificus should be monitored throughout the year, including the cold-water seasons, in order to properly protect human health. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS Even though raw seafoods, oysters in particular, are known to harbor Vibrio vulnificus and are frequent sources of human infection, the presence of this pathogen in Korean seafood has been relatively less well documented. In this study, we detected high percentages of antibiotic resistance, as well as the presence of V. vulnificus in seafood and environmental waters including the cold-water seasons. These data can be used in risk assessment protocols designed to establish safety in seafood against V. vulnificus in Korea.