INTRODUCTION:
The present study aimed to survey the Vibrio microbiota of oysters (Crassostrea rhizophorae) obtained from restaurants in Fortaleza, State of Ceará, Brazil, and to identify virulence factors.
METHODS:
The isolated vibrios were submitted to biochemical identification and were tested for hemolytic and urease activities.
RESULTS:
The isolated strains belonged to 13 species, with predominance of Vibrio mimicus. Of the strain isolates only from fresh samples, 20.5% and 2.8% showed hemolytic and urease activities, respectively.
CONCLUSIONS:
The findings support the little-publicized claim that Vibrio species other than V. parahaemolyticus and V. vulnificus can represent a health risk to public health.
Vibrio ; Crassostrea rhizophorae ; Virulence factors
