scholarly journals Evaluation of Two Direct Plating Methods Using Nonradioactive Probes for Enumeration of Vibrio parahaemolyticus in Oysters

2001 ◽  
Vol 67 (2) ◽  
pp. 721-724 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. A. Gooch ◽  
A. DePaola ◽  
C. A. Kaysner ◽  
D. L. Marshall

ABSTRACT Oysters (Crassostrea virginica) were collected monthly from May 1998 to April 1999 from Mobile Bay, Ala., and analyzed to determine Vibrio parahaemolyticus densities at zero time and after 5, 10, and 24 h of postharvest storage at 26°C. After 24 h of storage at 26°C, oysters were transferred to a refrigerator at 3°C and then analyzed 14 to 17 days later. TheV. parahaemolyticus numbers were determined by the most-probable-number procedure using alkaline phosphatase-labeled DNA probe VPAP, which targets the species-specific thermolabile hemolysin gene (tlh), to identify suspect isolates (MPN-VPAP procedure). Two direct plating methods, one using a VPAP probe (Direct-VPAP) and one using a digoxigenin-labeled probe (Direct-VPDig) to identify suspect colonies, were compared to the MPN-VPAP procedure. The results of the Direct-VPAP and Direct-VPDig techniques were highly correlated (r = 0.91), as were the results of the Direct-VPAP and MPN-VPAP procedures (r = 0.91). The correlation between the Direct-VPDig and MPN-VPAP results was 0.85. The two direct plating methods in which nonradioactive DNA probes were used were equivalent to the MPN-VPAP procedure for identification of totalV. parahaemolyticus, and they were more rapid and less labor-intensive.

2015 ◽  
Vol 78 (8) ◽  
pp. 1574-1580 ◽  
Author(s):  
THOMAS P. KINSEY ◽  
KERI A. LYDON ◽  
JOHN C. BOWERS ◽  
JESSICA L. JONES

Vibrio vulnificus (Vv) and Vibrio parahaemolyticus (Vp) are the two leading causes of bacterial illnesses associated with raw shellfish consumption. Levels of these pathogens in oysters can increase during routine antifouling aquaculture practices involving dry storage in ambient air conditions. After storage, common practice is to resubmerge these stored oysters to reduce elevated Vv and Vp levels, but evidence proving the effectiveness of this practice is lacking. This study examined the changes in Vv and in total and pathogenic (thermostable direct hemolysin gene and the tdh-related hemolysin gene, tdh+ and trh+) Vp levels in oysters after 5 or 24 h of dry storage (28 to 32°C), followed by resubmersion (27 to 32°C) for 14 days. For each trial, replicate oyster samples were collected at initial harvest, after dry storage, after 7 days, and after 14 days of resubmersion. Oysters not subjected to dry storage were collected and analyzed to determine natural undisturbed vibrio levels (background control). Vibrio levels were measured using a most-probable-number enrichment followed by real-time PCR. After storage, vibrio levels (excluding tdh+ and trh+ Vp during 5-h storage) increased significantly (P < 0.001) from initial levels. After 7 days of resubmersion, Vv and total Vp levels (excluding total Vp in oysters stored for 5 h) were not significantly different (P > 0.1) from levels in background oysters. Vv and total and pathogenic Vp levels were not significantly different (P > 0.1) from levels in background oysters after 14 days of resubmersion, regardless of dry storage time. These data demonstrate that oyster resubmersion after dry storage at elevated ambient temperatures allows vibrio levels to return to those of background control samples. These results can be used to help minimize the risk of Vv and Vp illnesses and to inform the oyster industry on the effectiveness of routine storing and resubmerging of aquaculture oysters.


2002 ◽  
Vol 65 (6) ◽  
pp. 970-974 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. A. GOOCH ◽  
A. DePAOLA ◽  
J. BOWERS ◽  
D. L. MARSHALL

Oysters at the retail stage of distribution generally contain greater densities of Vibrio parahaemolyticus than do oysters at harvest. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of postharvest storage at 26 and 3°C on the growth and survival of naturally occurring V. parahaemolyticus in shellstock American oysters (Crassostrea virginica). Oysters were collected monthly from May 1998 through April 1999 from Mobile Bay, Alabama, and their V. parahaemolyticus densities were determined after 0, 5, 10, and 24 h of postharvest storage at 26°C. After 24 h of storage at 26°C, oysters were transferred to a refrigerator at 3°C and analyzed 14 to 17 days later. V. parahaemolyticus numbers were determined by a direct plating method involving an alkaline-phosphatase-labeled DNA probe that targets the species-specific thermolabile hemolysin gene (tlh-AP) to identify suspect isolates. From April to December, when water temperatures at harvest were >20°C, the geometric mean harvest density of V. parahaemolyticus was 130 CFU/g. When water temperatures were <20°C, the geometric mean harvest density was 15 CFU/g. After harvest, V. parahaemolyticus multiplied rapidly in live oysters held at 26°C, showing a 50-fold increase (1.7 log CFU/g) at 10 h and a 790-fold increase (2.9 log CFU/g) at 24 h (April through December). Average V. parahaemolyticus numbers showed a sixfold decrease (0.8 log CFU/g) after approximately 14 days of refrigeration. These results indicate that V. parahaemolyticus can grow rapidly in unrefrigerated oysters.


2002 ◽  
Vol 65 (1) ◽  
pp. 79-87 ◽  
Author(s):  
DAVID W. COOK ◽  
PAUL O'LEARY ◽  
JEFF C. HUNSUCKER ◽  
EDNA M. SLOAN ◽  
JOHN C. BOWERS ◽  
...  

From June 1998 to July 1999, 370 lots of oysters in the shell were sampled at 275 different establishments (71%, restaurants or oyster bars; 27%, retail seafood markets; and 2%, wholesale seafood markets) in coastal and inland markets throughout the United States. The oysters were harvested from the Gulf (49%), Pacific (14%), Mid-Atlantic (18%), and North Atlantic (11%) Coasts of the United States and from Canada (8%). Densities of Vibrio vulnificus and Vibrio parahaemolyticus were determined using a modification of the most probable number (MPN) techniques described in the Food and Drug Administration's Bacteriological Analytical Manual. DNA probes and enzyme immunoassay were used to identify suspect isolates and to determine the presence of the thermostable direct hemolysin gene associated with pathogenicity of V. parahaemolyticus. Densities of both V. vulnificus and V. parahaemolyticus in market oysters from all harvest regions followed a seasonal distribution, with highest densities in the summer. Highest densities of both organisms were observed in oysters harvested from the Gulf Coast, where densities often exceeded 10,000 MPN/g. The majority (78%) of lots harvested in the North Atlantic, Pacific, and Canadian Coasts had V. vulnificus densities below the detectable level of 0.2 MPN/g; none exceeded 100 MPN/g. V. parahaemolyticus densities were greater than those of V. vulnificus in lots from these same areas, with some lots exceeding 1,000 MPN/g for V. parahaemolyticus. Some lots from the Mid-Atlantic states exceeded 10,000 MPN/g for both V. vulnificus and V. parahaemolyticus. Overall, there was a significant correlation between V. vulnificus and V. parahaemolyticus densities (r = 0.72, n = 202, P < 0.0001), but neither density correlated with salinity. Storage time significantly affected the V. vulnificus (10% decrease per day) and V. parahaemolyticus (7% decrease per day) densities in market oysters. The thermostable direct hemolysin gene associated with V. parahaemolyticus virulence was detected in 9 of 3,429 (0.3%) V. parahaemolyticus cultures and in 8 of 198 (4.0%) lots of oysters. These data can be used to estimate the exposure of raw oyster consumers to V. vulnificus and V. parahaemolyticus.


1974 ◽  
Vol 37 (2) ◽  
pp. 74-77 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lydia J. Goatcher ◽  
Sharon E. Engler ◽  
David C. Wagner ◽  
Dennis C. Westhoff

Freshly processed Maryland oysters (Crassostrea virginica) were inoculated with various levels of Vibrio parahaemolyticus Strain 3525 (03:K30), Kanagawa negative, and Strain 8700 (04:K11), Kanagawa positive. Inoculated oysters were stored at 5 C for up to 13 days and numbers of viable cells determined at regular intervals by both a direct plating, method and a most probable number (MPN) method. The number of cells detected was dependent on strain, inoculum level, and method of enumeration. In general, the direct plating method was unreliable and results varied according to plating medium used. At an inoculum level of 106 cells/g, viable cells of Strain 3525 and Strain 8700 were not detected by the direct plating method after 3 and 5 days of storage, respectively, while by the MPN method low numbers of Strain 3525 and Strain 8700 were still detected after 7 and 13 days of storage, respectively. At inoculum levels of 104 and 102 cells/g, the direct plating method did not accurately enumerate viable cells. Neither strain was detected by the MPN method following 5 days of storage at these inoculum levels. Loss of viability of both strains occurred most rapidly within the first 24 h and in some instances was as great as 3 log cycles. In general, higher levels of survivors of Strain 8700 than Strain 3525 were noted throughout the study. The pH change of oysters during storage was slight and could not account for the loss of viability of either strain.


2005 ◽  
Vol 68 (7) ◽  
pp. 1454-1456 ◽  
Author(s):  
YI-CHENG SU ◽  
JINGYUN DUAN ◽  
WEN-HSIN WU

The thiosulfate–citrate–bile salts–sucrose agar (TCBS) used in the most-probable-number method for detecting Vibrio parahaemolyticus cannot differentiate growth of V. parahaemolyticus from Vibrio vulnificus or Vibrio mimicus. This study examined the selectivity and specificity of Bio-Chrome Vibrio medium (BCVM), a chromogenic medium that detects V. parahaemolyticus on the basis of the formation of distinct purple colonies on the medium. A panel consisting of 221 strains of bacteria, including 179 Vibrio spp. and 42 non-Vibrio spp., were examined for their ability to grow and produce colored colonies on BCVM. Growth of Salmonella, Shigella, Escherichia coli, Enterobacter cloacae, Yersinia enterocolitica, and Aeromonas was inhibited by both BCVM and TCBS. All 148 strains of V. parahaemolyticus grew on BCVM, and 145 of them produced purple colonies. The remaining 31 Vibrio spp., except one strain of Vibrio fluvialis, were either unable to grow or produced blue-green or white colonies on BCVM. Bio-Chrome Vibrio medium was capable of differentiating V. parahaemolyticus from other species, including V. vulnificus and V. mimicus. Further studies are needed to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of BCVM for detecting V. parahaemolyticus in foods.


2015 ◽  
Vol 81 (7) ◽  
pp. 2320-2327 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. D. Cruz ◽  
D. Hedderley ◽  
G. C. Fletcher

ABSTRACTThe food-borne pathogenVibrio parahaemolyticushas been reported as being present in New Zealand (NZ) seawaters, but there have been no reported outbreaks of food-borne infection from commercially grown NZ seafood. Our study determined the current incidence ofV. parahaemolyticusin NZ oysters and Greenshell mussels and the prevalence ofV. parahaemolyticustdhandtrhstrains. Pacific (235) and dredge (21) oyster samples and mussel samples (55) were obtained from commercial shellfish-growing areas between December 2009 and June 2012. TotalV. parahaemolyticusnumbers and the presence of pathogenic genestdhandtrhwere determined using the FDA most-probable-number (MPN) method and confirmed using PCR analysis. In samples from the North Island of NZ,V. parahaemolyticuswas detected in 81% of Pacific oysters and 34% of mussel samples, while the numbers ofV. parahaemolyticustdhandtrhstrains were low, with just 3/215 Pacific oyster samples carrying thetdhgene.V. parahaemolyticusorganisms carryingtdhandtrhwere not detected in South Island samples, andV. parahaemolyticuswas detected in just 1/21 dredge oyster and 2/16 mussel samples. Numbers ofV. parahaemolyticusorganisms increased when seawater temperatures were high, the season when most commercial shellfish-growing areas are not harvested. The numbers ofV. parahaemolyticusorganisms in samples exceeded 1,000 MPN/g only when the seawater temperatures exceeded 19°C, so this environmental parameter could be used as a trigger warning of potential hazard. There is some evidence that the totalV. parahaemolyticusnumbers increased compared with those reported from a previous 1981 to 1984 study, but the analytical methods differed significantly.


1982 ◽  
Vol 45 (2) ◽  
pp. 150-151 ◽  
Author(s):  
ANTHONY A. TEPEDINO

Twelve of 36 samples of Long Island oysters were found to contain Vibrio parahaemolyticus with a most probable number range of 3.6 to 23 organisms/g. Six of 10 isolates tested were weakly Kanagawa positive. None was pathogenic by the rabbit ileal loop test.


2009 ◽  
Vol 72 (1) ◽  
pp. 174-177 ◽  
Author(s):  
CHENGCHU LIU ◽  
JIANZHANG LU ◽  
YI-CHENG SU

This study investigated the effects of flash freezing, followed by frozen storage, on reducing Vibrio parahaemolyticus in Pacific raw oysters. Raw Pacific oysters were inoculated with a five-strain cocktail of V. parahaemolyticus at a total level of approximately 3.5 × 105 most probable number (MPN) per gram. Inoculated oysters were subjected to an ultralow flash-freezing process (−95.5°C for 12 min) and stored at −10, −20, and −30°C for 6 months. Populations of V. parahaemolyticus in the oysters declined slightly by 0.22 log MPN/g after the freezing process. Subsequent storage of frozen oysters at −10, −20, and −30°C resulted in considerable reductions of V. parahaemolyticus in the oysters. Storing oysters at −10°C was more effective in inactivating V. parahaemolyticus than was storage at −20 or −30°C. Populations of V. parahaemolyticus in the oysters declined by 2.45, 1.71, and 1.45 log MPN/g after 1 month of storage at −10, −20, and −30°C, respectively, and continued to decline during the storage. The levels of V. parahaemolyticus in oysters were reduced by 4.55, 4.13, and 2.53 log MPN/g after 6 months of storage at −10, −20, and −30°C, respectively. Three process validations, each separated by 1 week and conducted according to the National Shellfish Sanitation Program's postharvest processing validation–verification interim guidance for Vibrio vulnificus and Vibrio parahaemolyticus, confirmed that a process of flash freezing, followed by storage at −21 ± 2°C for 5 months, was capable of achieving greater than 3.52-log (MPN/g) reductions of V. parahaemolyticus in half-shell Pacific oysters.


2012 ◽  
Vol 75 (8) ◽  
pp. 1501-1506 ◽  
Author(s):  
ROBERTA JULIANO RAMOS ◽  
MARÍLIA MIOTTO ◽  
FRANCISCO JOSÉ LAGREZE SQUELLA ◽  
ANDRÉIA CIROLINI ◽  
JAIME FERNANDO FERREIRA ◽  
...  

The efficacy of depuration using UV light and chlorinated seawater for decontaminating Vibrio parahaemolyticus and Vibrio vulnificus from oysters was investigated. Oysters were contaminated with a five-strain cocktail of V. parahaemolyticus or V. vulnificus to levels of 104 to 105 CFU ml−1 for bioaccumulation. The depuration was conducted in a closed system in which 350 liters of seawater was recirculated at a rate of 7 liters/min for 48 h at room temperature. Counts of V. parahaemolyticus or V. vulnificus were determined at 0, 6, 18, 24, and 48 h. Three treatments were conducted: T1, control treatment; T2, UV treatment; and T3, UV plus chlorine treatment. After 48 h of depuration of V. parahaemolyticus, T3 reduced the count by 3.1 log most probable number (MPN) g−1 and T2 reduced the count by 2.4 log MPN g−1, while T1 reduced the count by only 2.0 log MPN g−1. After 48 h of depuration of V. vulnificus, T2 and T3 were efficient, reducing the counts by 2.5 and 2.4 log MPN g−1, respectively, while T1 reduced the count by only 1.4 log MPN g−1. The UV light plus chlorine treatment was more efficient for controlling V. parahaemolyticus in oysters. Both UV light and UV light plus chlorine were efficient for V. vulnificus. The present study is the first report showing the efficacy of depuration systems for decontaminating V. parahaemolyticus and V. vulnificus in oysters cultivated on the Brazilian coast. This study provides information on processes that can contribute to controlling and preventing such microorganisms in oysters and could be used for effective postharvest treatment by restaurants and small producers of oysters on the coast of Brazil.


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