DISTRIBUTION OF POTENTIALLY PATHOGENIC VIBRIOS IN OYSTERS FROM A TROPICAL REGION

Oysters (Crassostrea gigas) originating from the southern coast of the State of Sao Paulo-Brazil were analyzed for Vibrio species. Most Prob able Numbers (MPN/100 g) were obtained for Vibrio alginolyticus (<3-1, 500), Vibrio parahaemolyticus (<3-1,200), Vibrio fluvialis (<3-150), V ibrio cholerae non 01 (<3-40), Vibrio furnissii (<3-40), Vibrio mimicu s (<3-40) and Vibrio vulnificus (<3-30). The highest incidence was obs erved for V. alginalyticus (81%), followed by V. parahaemolyticus (77% ), V. cholerae non 01 (31%), V. fluvialis (27%), V. furnissii (19%), V . mimicus (12%), and V. vulnificus (12%). Forty-eight percent of the i solates tested were positive for enterotoxins in the rabbit ileal loop (RIL) test and 11.1% in the suckling mice test. Vibrio parahaemolytic us (1.1%) was positive in the Kanagawa test. Vibrio vulnificus (25%) s howed lethality in young adult mice. During the field inspection it wa s observed that generally the conditions of storage were not adequate as 65% of the samples were maintained in temperatures ranging from 25 to 40 degrees C, 19% were frozen, 12% refrigerated and 4% was immersed in contaminated seawater. These results emphasize the great potential for food poisoning by inadequately presented seafood, and the necessi ty to upgrade the standards for food quality assessment.