Occurrence of Vibrio vulnificus in mussel farms from the Varano lagoon environment

Abstract

Monitoring the occurrence of the human pathogen Vibrio vulnificus in a mussel farm located in the lagoon of Varano (Italy). A total of 72 samples of mussel, water and sediment, collected from two locations of Varano lagoon in the Gargano peninsula, during a 7-month survey, were analysed. Isolation and PCR characterization of six V. vulnificus environmental genotype strains revealed that this pathogen was isolated when with T was above 22 °C and salinity ranged between 22.7 and 26.4‰. No significant correlation of the occurrence of V. vulnificus with water pH or salinity was observed. Moreover, 8% of mussel samples were found to be contaminated by V. vulnificus. All of that positive mussel samples originated from the same sampling station. It is suggested that warmer season are risky to eat raw or undercooked bivalve molluscs in the local area. To increase knowledge about environmental conditions that may affect the occurrence of waterborne pathogen Vibrio vulnificus in seafood.