Existence of two distinct hemolysins in Vibrio parahaemolyticus

Abstract

V. parahaemolyticus has been divided into 2 groups by its hemolytic activity on Wagatsuma medium; strains which show betatype hemolysis on Wagatsuma medium are called Kanagawa phenomenon (KP) positive, and those which give no hemolysis on Wagatsuma medium are called KP negative. Two distinct hemolysins were demonstrated in V. parahaemolyticus. A thermostable direct hemolysin purified from V. parahemolyticus WP 1, a Kanagawa phenomenon (KP) positive strain, is antigenically different from a thermolabile hemolysin produced by V. parahaemolyticus T 3454, a KP negative strain. The thermostable direct hemolysin was found in KP positive strains but not KP negative strains. On the other hand, the thermolabile hemolysins were found in both KP positive and negative strains, although some KP positive strains did not produce this hemolysin.