Vibro parahaemolyticus in cultured shrimps and their environment in South Iran

Samples of water, sediment and shrimp obtained from hatcheries and culture ponds were collected over a period of four months and were analyzed for Vibrio parahaemolyticus. Samples included the following: two samples of shrimp larva from two hatchery ponds (WLH); 14 samples of water, sediment and shrimp from 14 culture ponds supplied with shrimp larvae from the same hatchery ponds that were obtained one month after farm stocking (WC1, SeC1, and SC1, respectively); 14 samples of water, sediment and shrimp from the same 14 culture ponds, obtained 3 months after farm stocking (WC3, SeC3, and SC3, respectively); and 14 shrimp samples, from the same 14 culture ponds, collected from market (SM). Twelve samples of Persian Gulf Shrimp (SPM) were also obtained from the market and analyzed. V. parahaemolyticus was detected in 21.4% (3/14) WC1, 7.1% (1/14) SeC1, 35.7% (5/14) SC1, 42.8% (6 out of 14, of which one was Kanagawa-positive) WC3, 14.3% (2/14) SC3, 35.7% (5/14) SM, and 12% (3/12) SPM. No instance of WLH and SeC3 was detected. The isolation of V. parahaemolyticus, especially if Kanagawa positive, suggests a probable health risk for people wishing to consume raw or under-cooked shrimp.