Vibrio Parahaemolyticus Gastroenteritis in Maryland: Clinical and Epidemiologic Aspects1

Abstract

During August, 1971, three separate outbreaks of foodborne disease occurred in Maryland and involved about 425 (57%) of an estimated 745 at risk. Steamed crabs or crabmeat was the suspected vehicle of disease transmission in each outbreak. Vibrio parahaemolyticus was isolated from the crab and from stools of some ill persons in each outbreak. During August, 1971, three separate foodborne disease outbreaks occurred in Maryland, involving about 425 (57%) persons of an estimated 745 at risk. In each outbreak, steamed crabs or crabmeat was the suspected vehicle of disease transmission. From the crab and from the stools of some ill persons in each outbreak, Vibrio parahaemolyticus was isolated.

Tolerance and Other Biological Properties of Vibrio parahaemolyticus Endotoxins

“…Known in Japan for two decades as a causative agent of large outbreaks of seafoodassociated poisoning, Vibrio parahaemolyticus has recently been found associated with similar outbreaks in the U.S.A. [1,4,7,8,14,26,40,42,43], and other countries [2,3]. Nevertheless, the mode of pathogenesis of V. parahaemolyticus is poorly understood.…”

“…Strains isolated from clinical specimens and displaying hemolysis on selected media (Kanagawa-phenomenon positive) are considered to be enteropathogenic [30,39,49], whereas nonhemolytic (Kanagawa-phenomenon negative) seafood or seawater isolates are generally considered non-enteropathogenic [19,37,38]. The problem is further complicated by the frequent isolation of several different serotypes of V. parahaemolyticus during an outbreak of food poisoning [7,8].…”

“…Partial cross-tolerance to S. typhi endotoxin was demonstrated with rabbits rendered tolerant to endotoxin from V. parahaemolyticus strains Sak-3 and FC 1011. Absorption spectra, nitrogen, phosphorus and carbohydrate analyses revealed additional similarities between endotoxins from V. parahaemolyticus and endotoxin from a member of the Enterobacteriaceae.Known in Japan for two decades as a causative agent of large outbreaks of seafoodassociated poisoning, Vibrio parahaemolyticus has recently been found associated with similar outbreaks in the U.S.A. [1,4,7,8,14,26,40,42,43], and other countries [2,3]. Nevertheless, the mode of pathogenesis of V. parahaemolyticus is poorly understood.…”

“…Strains isolated from clinical specimens and displaying hemolysis on selected media (Kanagawa-phenomenon positive) are considered to be enteropathogenic [30,39,49], whereas nonhemolytic (Kanagawa-phenomenon negative) seafood or seawater isolates are generally considered non-enteropathogenic [19,37,38]. The problem is further complicated by the frequent isolation of several different serotypes of V. parahaemolyticus during an outbreak of food poisoning [7,8].Biologically active components (hemolysins) from selected strains of V.parahaemolyticus have been isolated which do not, however, account for the spectrum of gastroenteritis symptoms observed in clinical cases [12,17,19,25,28,29,31,36,50,51]. A single case of endotoxin shock and leg gangrene due to infections by V. parahaemolyticus following an attack of gastroenteritis has been demonstrated [36].…”

Toxin Isolation from a Kanagawa‐Phenomenon Negative Strain of Vibrio parahaemolyticus

“…V. parahaemolyticus FC 1011 toxin was found to be protein, to be inactivated by heat or trypsin hydrolysis, and to produce positive skin permeability reactions in rabbits. However, it failed to induce fluid accumulation in ligated ileal loops in rabbits.Prominent among symptoms recorded for victims of Vibrio parahaemolyticusassociated food poisoning are diarrhae, abdominal pain and vomiting, with chills, fever, headache and bloody stools less frequently reported (2,3,7,8,10,19,33,(36)(37)(38). V. parahaemolyticus illnesses have frequently been diagnosed as dysentery and non-typhoidal salmonellosis (1-3).…”