Automated ribotyping differentiates Vibrio parahaemolyticus O3 : K6 strains associated with a Texas outbreak from other clinical strains

Automated ribotyping with a Qualicon Riboprinter was used to determine whet her clinical isolates of Vibrio parahaemolyticus O3:K6 recovered during two U.S. outbreaks of oyster-associated gastroenteritis in 1998 were related t o each other and to a previously identified highly virulent Asian clone of this serotype. The patterns produced using the restriction enzymes Eco RI a nd Pst I suggest that the outbreak in the Northeastern United States was ca used by a single strain closely related to the Asian clone. In contrast, it appears that multiple strains were involved in the Texas outbreak and that the predominant type was genetically distinct from the Northeastern and As ian clone.