Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Vibrio vulnificus and microorganisms of fecal origin in mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) sold in the Puglia region (Italy)

Int J Food Microbiol. 2006 Feb 1;106(2):219-22. doi: 10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2005.05.020. Epub 2005 Oct 14.

Abstract

Mytilus galloprovincialis is one of the most commonly consumed of all bivalve molluscs. The consumption of raw bivalve molluscs has caused outbreaks of food poisoning due to Vibrio parahaemolyticus and Vibrio vulnificus. This paper reports the results of a survey on the presence of V. parahaemolyticus, V. vulnificus fecal coliform bacteria, Escherichia coli and Salmonella spp. in 600 M. galloprovincialis samples collected from retail outlets in the Puglia region. V. parahaemolyticus and V. vulnificus were found in 47 (7.83%) and 17 (2.83%) of the samples, respectively. One sample (0.16%) was contaminated with Salmonella spp. but no relationship was observed between vibrios and fecal coliforms and E. coli. There were no significant differences among vibrios present in bivalve molluscs during the 3-year survey.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bivalvia / microbiology*
  • Consumer Product Safety*
  • Enterobacteriaceae / isolation & purification
  • Feces / microbiology
  • Food Contamination
  • Humans
  • Italy
  • Shellfish / microbiology*
  • Vibrio parahaemolyticus / isolation & purification*
  • Vibrio vulnificus / isolation & purification*