An Overview of Vibrio vulnificus and Vibrio parahaemolyticus

ABSTRACT: The Vibrionaceae are environmentally ubiquitous to estuarine waters. Two species in particular, V. vulnificus and V. parahaemolyticus , are important human pathogens that are transmitted by the consumption of contaminated molluscan shellfish. This document provides a comprehensive review of the current state of knowledge about these important foodborne disease agents. Topics include the epidemiology of human disease; biotypes and virulence factors; cultural and molecular‐based detection methods; phenotyping and genotyping approaches; microbial ecology; and candidate control strategies. Recent international risk assessment efforts are also described. The reader will gain an understanding of why these organisms pose a public health risk and how improving our understanding of their behavior in the environment and the host can aid in reducing that risk in the future.