The incidence and levels of Vibrio parahaemolyticus and thermostable direct hemolysin gene (tdh)-positive organisms in retail seafood were determined. The most probable number-polymerase chain reaction (MPN-PCR) method using a PCR procedure targeting the species-specific thermolabile hemolysin gene (tlh) and tdh was used to determine the levels of V. parahaemolyticus and tdh-positive organisms, respectively.In seafood for raw consumption, V. parahaemolyticus was found in four (13.3ῐ) of 30 fish samples, 11 (55.0ῐ) of 20 crustacean samples, and 29 (96.7ῐ) of 30 mollusc samples. Levels of V. parahaemolyticus were below 10 4 MPN/100 g in all fish and crustacean samples tested. However, they were above 10 4 MPN/100 g in 11 (36.7ῐ) of the 30 mollusc samples. In all seafood for raw consumption, the level of tdh-positive organisms was below the limit of detection (῎30 MPN/100 g).In seafood for cooking, V. parahaemolyticus was found in 15 (75.0ῐ) of 20 fish samples, nine (45.0ῐ) of 20 crustacean sample, and 20 (100ῐ) of 20 mollusc samples. Levels of V. parahaemolyticus were above 10 4 MPN/100 g in only three (15.0ῐ) and one (5.0ῐ) of the 20 fish and 20 crustacean samples, respectively. However, they were above 10 4 MPN/100 g in 18 (90.0ῐ) of the 20 mollusc samples. In seven (35.0ῐ) of the 20 mollusc samples, tdh-positive organisms were found and their levels ranged from 3.6῍10 to 1.1῍10 3 MPN/100 g. From four of seven tdhpositive samples, tdh-positive V. parahaemolyticus was isolated.