[Presence and etio-epidemiological significance of halophilic vibriones in various material]

In this work data of isolation of halophilic vibrios from coastal water of central Tyrrhenian sea are reported, and the epidemiological significance of such strains is discussed. V. Parahaemolyticus was identified in 8 out of 20 samples of sea water. V. alginolyticus was identified in 8 out of 26 samples of fishes and mussels examined and in 8 out of 20 sea water samples. Halophilic vibrios had not been isolated from 12 samples of sewage water and from 27 healthy or pathological human stool samples. From 6 different samples (sewage water and human stools included) bacteriophages active against V. parahaemolyticus were isolated. This study demonstrates that in our geographical area V. parahaemolyticus is present. The pathogenicity of such strains cannot be demonstrated because of the lack of available experimental models in vitro and/or in vivo. It is also impossible to assume their etiological rôle in human pathology, due to the absence of specific epidemics or single cases in our country.