Vibrio vulnificus pollution of imported frozen Black Tiger shrimps in Japan

Abstract

The Ariake Sea area of Japan is endemic for Vibrio vulnificus infection. V vulnificus was isolated from slime from tidal flats, seawater, and fish Sea year-round as we reported previously. To identify new routes and factors of V vulnificus infection, we studied V. vulnificus pollution of imported frozen Black Tiger shrimps purchased from a fish market in Kurume, Fukuoka, Japan. V. vulnificus was isolated from 9 of 100 tails (9%) of Philippines products, 3 of 100 tails (3%) of Indonesia products, and 0 out of 100 tails (0%) of Madagascar products. Cytotoxin-hemolysin genes were identified in 7 V. vulnificus strains isolated from patients with V vulnificus septicemia, 9 strains from Philippine products, and 3 strains from Indonesian products. These results suggest that imported frozen Black Tiger shrimps are a new sources of V. vulnificus infection.