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CHARACTERISATION OF VIBRIO PARAHAEMOLYTICUS ISOLATED FROM FISH IN KENYA
Abstract
Background: Acute gastroenteritis associated with fish has been reported since 1951 but is
gaining importance with increase in fish consumption in Kenya. Thecausativeagent is Vibrio
paraltaemolyticus. The importance of this organism is increasing due to the rise in the
incidence of outbreaks of food poisoning related to it.
Objective: To iisolate and characterise local strains of Vibrioparahaemolyticus from sea and
fresh-water fish.
Design: A prospective study.
Setting: Threc: lakes, a river, a dam and the Kenyan coastline.
Subjects: Wat.er and fish samples collected from the study sites.
'Wain outcointl measllres: Isolation of Vibrio parahaemolyticus on glucose-salt- teepol broth
(GTSB), and ,triphenyltetraxolium chloride soya tryptone (TSAT) and several biochemical
media, testing the pathogenicity for the isolates by Kanagawa phenomenon and testing the
plasmids profiles, coagglutination sensitivity to antimicrobial substance using standard
methods.
Results: Twenty nine isolates (4%) were obtained from a total of 666 samples screened,
twenty seven of which were isolated from 62 coastal samples. They were Kanagawa negative
although their plasniid profiles and sensitivity to antimicrobials varied.
Conclusion: There is need to recognise V. parahaemolyticus as a potential problem due to the.
increase in consumption of fish as an alternative source of protein.
gaining importance with increase in fish consumption in Kenya. Thecausativeagent is Vibrio
paraltaemolyticus. The importance of this organism is increasing due to the rise in the
incidence of outbreaks of food poisoning related to it.
Objective: To iisolate and characterise local strains of Vibrioparahaemolyticus from sea and
fresh-water fish.
Design: A prospective study.
Setting: Threc: lakes, a river, a dam and the Kenyan coastline.
Subjects: Wat.er and fish samples collected from the study sites.
'Wain outcointl measllres: Isolation of Vibrio parahaemolyticus on glucose-salt- teepol broth
(GTSB), and ,triphenyltetraxolium chloride soya tryptone (TSAT) and several biochemical
media, testing the pathogenicity for the isolates by Kanagawa phenomenon and testing the
plasmids profiles, coagglutination sensitivity to antimicrobial substance using standard
methods.
Results: Twenty nine isolates (4%) were obtained from a total of 666 samples screened,
twenty seven of which were isolated from 62 coastal samples. They were Kanagawa negative
although their plasniid profiles and sensitivity to antimicrobials varied.
Conclusion: There is need to recognise V. parahaemolyticus as a potential problem due to the.
increase in consumption of fish as an alternative source of protein.
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