SEASONAL-VARIATIONS IN THE OCCURRENCE OF VIBRIO-VULNIFICUS ALONG THE DUTCH COAST

The seasonal variation in the occurrence of V. vulnificus in relation to water temperature and salinity was studied along the Dutch coast. I n two consecutive years V. vulnificus strains could be isolated in Aug ust when the water temperature was highest. The indole-positive strain s isolated from North Sea water samples were identical to most strains isolated from human disease and from the environment. However, strain s isolated from four of five patients living in countries around the N orth Sea were different from the North Sea isolates in that they were indole-negative and have a lower NaCl tolerance.