The purpose of this Risk Profile is to critically review available information and determine the risk to human health from V. vulfificus in bivalve molluscan shellfish.

Keywords: Risk Profile, Vibrio, vulfificus, bivalve, molluscan, shellfish

The purpose of this Risk Profile is to critically review available information and determine if the risk to human health from V. parahaemolyticus had changed since 2003.
Keywords: Risk Profile, Vibrio, parahaemolyticus, bivalve, molluscan, shellfish

An infrequent cause of disease in New Zealand, but has a high associated case fatality rate. It is a marine organism (grows in 6% NaCl) that can grow both in the presence and absence of air.

A marine Vibrio normally associated with food poisonings involving seafood consumption. It is a major cause of food poisoning in Asian countries. Certain strains (Kanagawa phenomenon-positive, KP+) are primarily involved with human disease.

NZFSA commissioned Cawthron Research Institute to conduct a microbiological survey to determine the levels of total and pathogenic Vibrio parahaemolyticus (Vp) and Vibrio vulnificus (Vv) in Pacific oysters (Crassostrea gigas) collected from commercial growing areas in the North Island of New Zealand.

The species is divided into serotypes on the basis of the O antigen. Cholera is typically associated with O1, but serotype O139 has also been the cause of many cases of cholera in Asia.