Vibrio vulnificus biotype 2, pathogenic for eels, is also an opportunistic pathogen for humans

Abstract

We report that the eel pathogen Vibrio vulnificus biotype 2 is also an opportunistic pathogen for humans. Results from a detailed comparative study using reference strains of both biotypes revealed that the clinical strain ATCC 33817, originally isolated from a human leg wound and classified as V. vulnificus (no reference on its biotype is noted), belongs to biotype 2 of the species. As a biotype 2 strain, it is negative for indole and pathogenic for eels and mice, harbors two plasmids of high M r s, and belongs to serogroup E, recently proposed as characteristic of biotype 2 strains. In consequence, appropriate measures must be taken by consumers, particularly by those running a health risk, and by fish farmers, above all when manipulating eels during epizootic outbreaks.

Detection and differentiation of Vibrio vulnificus and V. sinaloensis in water and oysters of a Gulf of Mexico estuary

“…Vibrio vulnificus concentrations determined following APW enrichment likely represent only a subset of the total V. vulnificus population. Failure to detect biotype 2 strains is also a potential health concern as these strains have also been shown to be pathogenic to humans (Amaro and Biosca, 1996).…”

“…The bacterium exhibits a high degree of genetic diversity and is divided into three biotypes (1, 2 and 3) based on genotypic as well as phenotypic differences. All three biotypes have the ability to infect humans; however, biotype 1 is most frequently implicated in human infections (Amaro and Biosca, 1996;Bisharat et al, 1999;Jones and Oliver, 2009). Vibrio vulnificus is the leading cause of reported deaths associated with the consumption of raw or undercooked shellfish; the mortality rate from cases resulting in septicemia is greater than 50%, and approximately 50 cases are reported each year in the USA (Oliver, 2005).…”

Ferric-reductase activities in Vibrio vulnificus biotypes 1 and 2

“…Vibrio vulni¢cus is a pathogenic microorganism that comprises two biotypes [6,7]. Biotype 1 is an opportunistic human pathogen, avirulent for eels, that has been isolated from human clinical samples.…”

“…Strains of this biotype can also be recovered from water samples, especially from environments with relatively high temperatures and middle salinity [6]. Biotype 2 is a primary eel pathogen, recently recognized as a human pathogen [7], that has only been recovered from diseased eels and clinical samples. Both biotypes show phase variation between capsulated and acapsulated forms [6] and express inducible iron uptake systems that consist of siderophores and their corresponding receptors [8].…”

Impact of hypoxia on gene expression patterns by the human pathogen, Vibrio vulnificus, and bacterial community composition in a North Carolina estuary

“…V. vulnificus is commonly isolated from a variety of sources, including shellfish, fish, water, and sediment, in estuaries worldwide [Oliver, 2006]. A remarkable feature of this bacterium is its genotypic variability, having not only three distinct biotypes but multiple genotypes [Amaro and Biosca, 1996;Danin-Poleg et al, 2013;Warner and Oliver, 2008]. Within biotype one strains of V. vulnificus there are two genotypes, clinical (C) and environmental (E), which correlate to both isolation source and specific polymorphisms in the virulence-correlated gene [Rosche et al, 2005[Rosche et al, , 2010.…”