OCCURRENCE OF Vibrio vulnificus, AN EMERGING PATHOGEN IN AQUACULTURE PONDS

Vibrio vulnificus is a gram negative bacterium considered to be important pathogen in seafood handling, consumption and after wound contact of aquatic environment.  Infection may result from consuming or handling contaminated seafood or from exposing open wounds or broken skin to contaminated salt or brackish water. The multiple ports of entry make the bacteria commercially important with the increased quantum of vulnerable population. Vibrio vulnificus is especially virulent in patients with liver disease and iron storage disorders.  V. vulnificus infections, can lead to sepsis and severe wound infections with fatality rate of 50% for bacteremia and 25% for wound infections. Aquaculture samples such as shrimp, Fish, sediment and water have taken from Ernakulam, Trissur and Alleppy districts of Kerala screened for Vibrio vulnificus. 283 samples  were collected for protocol standardization. With different combinations SOP developed for obtaining Vibrio vulnificus. After SOP development, samples were screened for the parameters such as Total viable bacterial count (TVBC) and Total Vibrio count (TVVC) for the comparison of occurrence.  Bio typing and molecular typing done as per BAM protocol. Virulence Markers such as swarming, capsule formation, enzyme production, toxin production, hemolysis and siderophore production were checked for both environmental and pathogenic isolates. This study may help in future control of this emerging pathogen.