Detection of pathogenic Vibrio parahaemolyticus in Butrinti Lagoon shellfish

FATMIRA SHEHU^1*,VALENTINA TERIO², PATRIZIA MARCHETTI², ANNA MOTTOLA², MARILISA BOTTARO², BIZENA BIJO¹, ADRIAN XINXO³ , ANGELA DI PINTO²

¹ Department of Veterinary Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (FVM), Kodër-Kamëz, Tirana, Albania

² Department of Veterinary Medicine – University of Bari Aldo Moro – Prov. le Casamassima, km 3 – 70010

 Valenzano (Bari) – ITALY

 ³Food Safety and Veterinary Institute (FSVI), “Aleksandër Moisiu” No. 10, Tirana, Albania

*Correspondent author:s_fatmira@yahoo.it

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 Abstract

Given the considerable public health implications, monitoring of V. parahaemolyticus in shellfish is crucial. The 50 shellfish samples from Butrinti Lagoon showed bacteriological parameters, Salmonella and E. coli, according to Commission Regulation EC No. 2073/2005 on microbiological criteria for foodstuffs. In particular, Salmonella was absent in 25 g and E. coli <230/100 g of flesh and intra-valvular liquid. The PCRs performed on enrichment broth from each sample gave positive results for V. parahaemolyticus in 45/50 shellfish samples. The TDH virulence factor was detected in 15/45 samples only, whereas TRH factor was not highlighted at all. The results confirmed the need for a specific shellfish inspection plan to detect the presence of Vibrio species and viruses in order to eliminate public health risks associated with shellfish consumption

Key words: Shellfish, V. parahaemolyticus, E. coli, Salmonella spp