DETECTION OF TDH AND TRH GENES IN A UREA-HYDROLYZING ENVIRONMENTAL ISOLATE OF VIBRIO-PARAHAEMOLYTICUS FROM THE ANDAMANS

Co-existence of trh gene and urea-hydrolysing property in one of 44 ma rine water isolates of Vibrio parahaemolyticus correlates strongly wit h both genotypic and phenotypic characteristics of the bacterium. Thus , urease-producing phenotype can be considered a marker of virulence f or the production of thermostable direct haemolysin-related haemolysin (TRH) (i.e. possession of trh gene). The same isolate also possessed the tdh gene. An environmental isolate possessing all the characterist ics of a pathogenic Fl parahaemolyticus in this marine environment sug gest that there is a likelihood of the occurrence of clinical cases of gastroenteritis caused by V. parahaemolyticus in the Andamans.