Vibrio alginolyticus wound infection after exposure to sea water in an air crash

Antimicrobial resistance of Vibrio parahaemolyticus and Vibrio alginolyticus strains isolated from farmed fish in Korea from 2005 through 2007

The antimicrobial resistance patterns to 15 antimicrobial agents of Vibrio parahaemolyticus and Vibrio alginolyticus isolated from farmed fishes, including olive flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus), black rockfish (Sebastes schlegeli), red sea bream (Pagrus major), and sea bass (Lateolabrax japonicus), were investigated from 2005 through 2007. A total of 218 V. parahaemolyticus isolates and 153 V. alginolyticus isolates were obtained from the 180 fish samples collected from fish farms located along the southern coast of Korea. We found that 65.1% of V. parahaemolyticus and 85.6% of V. alginolyticus isolates showed antimicrobial resistance against more than one antimicrobial agent. The prevalence of resistance in V. parahaemolyticus isolates to ampicillin was highest (57.8%), followed by resistance to rifampin (11.9%), streptomycin (8.7%), and trimethoprim (6.4%). V. alginolyticus isolates were also most resistant to ampicillin (75.2%), followed by tetracycline (15.0%), trimethoprim (12.4%), and rifampin (9.8%). The prevalence of multiresistance to four or more antimicrobials was higher in V. alginolyticus (11.1%) than in V. parahaemolyticus (5%). Antimicrobial resistance rates per isolate of V. parahaemolyticus and V. alginolyticus possessing virulence genes were not different from those of the rest of the isolates.

The 2009 Sydney shark attacks: case series and literature review

BACKGROUND

There were 59 unprovoked shark attacks worldwide in 2008. Twelve of these occurred in Australia, ranking it as second only to the USA. In February 2009, two attacks occurred within 72 h in Sydney, Australia.

METHODS

The two patients involved survived severe limb trauma. Case 1 suffered bite trauma to the lower limb and hand and underwent staged debridement and early amputation. Case 2 presented with a hand severed at the level of the wrist that was initially replanted. However, it would succumb to progressive necrosis after 12 days. We discuss the aspects of these cases that contributed to the patients' survival and ultimately good functional outcomes.

DISCUSSION

New paradigms for the management of major trauma patients have emerged over the last decade. We consider recent advances in the understanding of pre-hospital tourniquet use, rapid transit to the operating suite and damage control surgery, and examine how they impacted on the management of our patients. Very little is known about the microbiology of shark bites. Organisms from sea water, the patient's skin and the shark's mouth must all be considered when selecting appropriate antimicrobial prophylaxis. The planning of definitive surgery in severe limb trauma is dependent on the interactions of a number of factors including physical, psychological and social issues. The decision to ultimately replant or amputate the effected limb is best made in union with the patient and their family.

Endophthalmitis caused by Vibrio alginolyticus

Vibrio alginolyticus is a facultative anaerobic gram-negative bacillus found in normal marine flora. Ocular infections induced by V. alginolyticus are extremely rare. We report a case of endophthalmitis caused by V. alginolyticus to draw attention to V. alginolyticus infections following ocular injuries.

Research and characterization of pathogenic vibrios from bathing water along the Conero Riviera (Central Italy)

The occurrence and pathogenicity of vibrios in bathing water were investigated along the Conero Riviera (Adriatic Sea, Central Italy). Vibrio spp. enumeration was performed on thiosulfate-citrate-bile-salts-sucrose-agar by the membrane filter method, and identification was done through a biochemical protocol. All isolates were tested for the presence of cytotoxicity, protease, lipase, elastase, gelatinase, urease, haemolytic activity, ctx, tdh and trh genes by conventional methods. In all, 200 vibrios were isolated from 132 samples that were analysed. Vibrio harveyi and Vibrio alginolyticus were the species most frequently recovered. All strains were cytotoxic and some of them showed protease, gelatinase, lipase, elastase, urease and haemolytic activity. One isolate of V. alginolyticus and one of V. harveyi had the trh gene, while another strain of V. harveyi and one of Vibrio parahaemolyticus had the ctx gene. These results demonstrate the presence of potentially pathogenic vibrios in the Conero Riviera and the risk of infection due to bathing water exposure.

Intraspecific characterization of Vibrio alginolyticus isolates recovered from cultured fish in Spain

AIMS

Intraspecific differentiation and characterization of Vibrio alginolyticus strains isolated from cultured fish in Spain.

MATERIALS AND RESULTS

Thirty-four Vibrio alginolyticus strains isolated from cultured fish were intraspecifically characterized on the basis of biochemical and exoenzymatic patterns, outer membrane protein (OMP) profiles, ribotyping and plasmid analyses. The typing methods used did not allow to group V. alginolyticus isolates on the basis of their sources of collection. A higher homogeneity was observed in OMP profiles. A high percentage of isolates were plasmidless. Ribotyping was the highest discriminatory typing method, as all the isolates tested presented 23 profiles using the HindIII restriction enzyme. On the basis of the ribotyping pattern, a similarity matrix and a dendrogram were constructed.

CONCLUSIONS

The results obtained indicate that V. alginolyticus strains isolated from southwestern Spain belong to different clonal lineages.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

This study has shown differences with other similar studies carried out in other areas of Europe with strains of V. alginolyticus with respect to the clonal lineages of the strains isolated in southwestern Spain.

Retention of virulence in viable but non-culturable halophilic Vibrio spp

The viable but non-culturable (VBNC) forms of two environmental strains of Vibrio alginolyticus 1 and Vibrio parahaemolyticus 66 and one strain of V. parahaemolyticus ATCC 43996 showing virulence characteristics (hemolysin production, adhesive and/or cytotoxic ability, in vivo enteropathogenicity) were obtained by culturing bacteria in a microcosm consisting of artificial sea water (ASW) and incubating at 5 degrees C with shaking. Every 2 days, culturability of the cells in the microcosm was monitored by spread plates on BHI agar and total count and the percentage of viable cells were determined by double staining with DAPI and CTC. When cell growth was not detectable (<0.1 CFU/ml), the population was considered non-culturable and, then, the VBNC forms were resuscitated in a murine model. For each strain, eight male Balb/C mice were intragastrically inoculated with 0.1 ml of concentrated ASW bacterial culture. Two mice from each group were sacrificed at 2, 4, 8, and 12 days after challenge for autopsy and re-isolation of the microorganisms from the intestinal tissue cultures. Isolation was obtained in 25% of the animals challenged with the VBNC V. alginolyticus strain, in 37.5% of those challenged with the VBNC V. parahaemolyticus strain of environmental origin and in 50% of the animals infected with VBNC V. parahaemolyticus ATCC 43996. The strains thus isolated were again subjected to biological assays to determine the retention of pathogenicity. The virulence characteristics that seemed to disappear after resuscitation in the mouse were subsequently reactivated by means of two consecutive passages of the strains in the rat ileal loop model. The results obtained indicate that VBNC forms of the strains examined can be resuscitated and retain their virulence properties.

Unusual marine pathogens causing cellulitis and bacteremia in hemodialysis patients: report of two cases and review of the literature

Cellulitis in immunocompetent hosts is usually caused by skin organisms and responds to oral antibiotics. In immunocompromised hosts, such as end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients, unusual organisms with unpredictable pathogenicity can cause infections. We present two cases with isolates that are usually encountered in coastal waters. The first case describes a 71-year-old African-American ESRD patient who presented with bacteremia secondary to a wound infection after exposure to flood waters in a tropical storm. The second case describes a 70-year-old Caucasian male ESRD patient who developed septic shock after a trivial wound inflicted while on a shrimp boat. Both patients were successfully treated with appropriate antibiotics and supportive measures. The infective agents in both cases belong to the halophilic Vibrio species. The causative agent of cellulitis and bacteremia in the first hemodialysis patient was identified as Vibrio alginolyticus, a non-lactose-fermenting gram-negative bacillus that is rarely isolated from blood. The second patient presented with septic shock owing to Vibrio vulnificus, which is a lactose-fermenting bacillus known to produce severe localized or systemic illness. In both cases, the common features were ESRD-related immunocompromised state and exposure to marine environments. These two cases of life-threatening cellulitis and bacteremia are presented as examples of environmental pathogens common to a marine environment in coastal areas and the imperative need of rapid identification and prompt initiation of treatment in immunocompromised hosts.

Occurrence, diversity, and pathogenicity of halophilic Vibrio spp. and non-O1 Vibrio cholerae from estuarine waters along the Italian Adriatic coast

The occurrence, diversity, and pathogenicity of Vibrio spp. were investigated in two estuaries along the Italian Adriatic coast. Vibrio alginolyticus was the predominant species, followed by Vibrio parahaemolyticus, non-O1 Vibrio cholerae, and Vibrio vulnificus. By using a biochemical fingerprinting method, all isolates were grouped into nine phenotypes with similarity levels of 75 to 97.5%. The production of toxins capable of causing cytoskeleton-dependent changes was detected in a large number of Vibrio strains. These findings indicate a significant presence of potentially pathogenic Vibrio strains along the Adriatic coast.