Characterization of some vibrio parahaemolyticus strains isolated from seafoods in Lebanon.

One hundred and seventy seafood specimens were investigated for the presence of Vibrio parahaemolyticus. V. parahaemolyticus was isolated from two fish and one crab specimens, and V. alginolyticus was isolated from seven fish, three shrimp, two sea-urchin and one crab specimens. The V. parhaemolyticus isolates had biochemical characteristics that were similar to two standard strains. Like the standard strains, two of the V. parahaemolyticus isolates were Kangawa phenomenon positive and were serologically similar to one of the standard strains. One isolate exhibited slight cross reactivity with V. alginolyticus but no cross reactivity with E. coli. One of the V. alginolyticus isolates was Kanagawa-phenomenon positive.