Türkiye’de İlk Defa Saptanan Gıda Kaynaklı Vibrio Parahaemolyticus Olguları*

Abstract

ABSTRACT Vibrio parahaemolyticus (V.parahaemolyticus) is detected in many parts of the world. It is one of the most common causes of food-borne infections in Asian countries and Japan, and is usually seen as minor outbreaks involving less than ten cases. In this study, it is aimed to investigate V.parahaemolyticus in diarrhea cases in our laboratory in order to draw attention to the possible cases of this agent due to the increase in the consumption of shellfish. In the period of July-August 2018; patients who applied to the emergency service of our hospital with gastrointestinal tract infection symptoms following seafood consumption were investigated by stool microscopy and culture as part of routine procedures. Stool samples were cultured on Hektoen enteric agar, MacConkey agar, and sheep blood agar and were incubated at 37°C for 24 hours. After the incubation period, lactose negative and oxidase-positive colonies were identified by classical biochemical tests, VITEK 2 and MALDI-TOF MS (bioMérieux, France). In seven patients aged between 12-59, clinical symptoms associated with gastroenteritidis started after consuming stuffed mussels in four, eating fish in one, and in a patient after consuming fast food. One patient could not be contacted. In the microscopic examination of the macroscopically watery and mucous stool samples, abundant leukocytes in all samples, and abundant erythrocytes in addition to leukocytes in one sample were seen. The bacteria grown in culture were identified as V.parahaemolyticus by conventional methods and automated systems, Vitek 2 with 96 % and MALDITOF MS with 99 % accuracy. The results were also confirmed by the General Directorate of Public Health, National Enteric Pathogens Reference Laboratory by conventional methods, API 20 E and MALDI-TOF MS (BrukerDaltonics, USA). It should be kept in mind that V.parahaemolyticus can be isolated as a cause of gastroenteritis in diarrhea cases during the summer months, especially in the presence of a history of seafood consumption, and further investigations should be performed in this direction.