Molecular Detection of Vibrio spp. in Fish and Shrimp from the Persian Gulf

Abstract

<em>Vibrio</em> species are the major seafood-borne bacteria that are frequently associated with the consumption of contaminated sea food. A total of 113 samples including 58 fish and 55 shrimps were studied for the possible contamination with <em>Vibrio</em> species. A biochemical protocol was applied for the identification of the <em>Vibrio</em> isolates and Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) was carried out to confirm the strains. The results indicated that 25 samples (22%) were contaminated with <em>Vibrio</em> species. Among <em>Vibrio</em> isolates, <em>Vibrio harveyi</em> was the species most frequently isolated (11.5%), followed by followed by <em>V. parahaemolyticus</em>, <em>V. vulnificus</em>, <em>V. alginolyticus</em> and <em>V. mimicus</em>. <em>Vibrio cholerae</em> was not detected in the studied samples. The results of this study indicated that fish and shrimp from the Persian Gulf regularly contain pathogens that might affect the public health