1982 Volume 56 Issue 4 Pages 335-340
A 48-year-old man was admitted to the Kinki University Hospital because of swelling and pain of both lower legs. One year before admission diagnosis of primary hepatoma, liver cirrhosis and diabetes mellitus were made. Two days before admission, temperature rose to 38.8°C, swelling and pain of both lower legs were developed. On admission, the patient was cyanotic and nearly shock state. There were pitting edema (1+) and purpura in both legs and feet. The femoral arteries showed pulsation, but the popliteal arteries were not palpable bilaterally. Prolongation of prothrombin time (18.7 sec), decrease of plasma fibrinogen (145 mg/dl) and elevation of blood FDP (40μg/ml) were observed. Endotoxin shock and thrombosis caused by infection were considered. Although administration of hydrocortisone, vasopressor drugs and dopamine, the patient died at 11 hours after admission. The isolated organism from blood culture on admission was gram negative, a curved rod shape with a single polar flagellum when cultured in liquid media, and had a low tolerance for sodium chloride (0.5-6%) and a hemolytic activity on red blood cell from rabbit, sheep and human. Based on these properties and biochemical characteristics, which were very similar to those reported by Hollis et al., were identified this isolate as Vibrio vulnfcus.We also found two morphological type of the isolated strain in respect to the number of the polar flagellum, one type had a single polar flagellum, the other had polar multiple (2-5) flagella. These two forms were constantly seen when the isolate was growth on DST agar (oxoid) or on complex solid medium containing either 0.2% sodium lawryl sulfate (SDS), or polymyxin B (250 units/ml). The bacterial cell with polar multiple (1-7) flagella were also seen when a reference strain (ATCC 29307) of the species was growth under the same condition. An autopsy findings showed liver cirrhosis and hepatoma in the left lobe.
