Pathogenic Vibrio
Managing Vibrio risk
The Eurofins Food & Feed Testing laboratories support you in the secure and sustainable preservation of pathogenic Vibrio strains, ensuring the reliability of your analyses, regulatory compliance, and control of microbiological risks.
Key services
- ISO 21872-1: Reference method for detection of Vibrio parahaemolyticus and Vibrio cholerae
- Species-level identification: For further risk assessment and traceability
- Support for export and compliance: Especially for seafood and shellfish products from high-risk regions
- Our experts also advise on sampling plans and environmental testing for food businesses handling high-risk seafood
Moderate but variable health impacts
The three main Vibrio species involved in foodborne illnesses cause symptoms ranging from mild to severe diarrhea (V. parahaemolyticus and V. cholerae) to septicemia (V. vulnificus) and even cholera. Complications can occur and, in the worst cases, lead to up to 75% fatality.
Various and unusual contamination routes
- Vibrio cholerae serogroups O1 or O139, responsible for cholera, are mainly linked to human-to-human transmission, ingestion of contaminated water, or consumption of food contaminated by water.
- For Vibrio parahaemolyticus and Vibrio cholerae non-O1/non-O139, the main contamination routes are crustaceans, shellfish, and other seafood products.
- For Vibrio vulnificus, foodborne contamination is rare; transmission occurs mainly through skin contact.
Pathogenicity determined in one or two steps
The pathogenic nature of Vibrio may depend on additional factors beyond species detection in 25g:
- For Vibrio vulnificus, all strains are currently considered pathogenic by default.
- For Vibrio parahaemolyticus, strains must carry genes coding for one of the two hemolysins (TDH and TRH) produced in the human intestine, which cause intoxication.
- For Vibrio cholerae, serogroup determination is required:
- For non-O1/non-O139 strains, search for genes coding for cholera toxin. Note: in 2021, a case without this gene caused a foodborne outbreak in the EU.
- For O1 or O139 serogroup strains: pathogenicity is confirmed.
Get in touch
Would you like to find out more about our testing solutions, or do you need individual analytical support? Contact us today to get in touch with our experts.